Jamieson, Alexander A Celestial Atlas

Jamieson, Alexander A Celestial Atlas comprising a Systematic Display of the Heavens in a Series of Thirty Maps. Illustrated by Scientific Descriptions of their Contents, and accompanied by Catalogues of the Stars and Astronomical Exercises. London: G. & W. B. Whittaker, 1822. Oblong 4to (28.6 x 23.4cm), original black half morocco gilt, marbled sides, engraved label to front board, 64 pp., engraved title-page and dedication leaf, 30 engraved maps (all but one with original hand-colour), errata slip to rear, contemporary gift inscription to front pastedown, paper lifting along fore edge of front board, light offsetting Qty: (1) Note: Alexander Jamieson was a Scottish-born schoolmaster, writer of educational books and sometime actuary. In the preface he explains that his Celestial Atlas is an attempt to revive the work of Flamsteed and acknowledges a debt to Johann Bode's Vorstellung der Gestirne (1782), itself an edition of Flamsteed's Atlas Coelestis. The work proved highly popular, going to a second edition later the same year and inspiring the set of astronomical playing cards Urania's Mirror, which appeared in 1825.