Wilhelm Beer (1797-1850) and Johann Madler (1794-1874)
Mappa Selenographica. Berlin: Simon Schropp, 1834.
Rare first edition of a milestone in extra-terrestrial cartography. ‘Beer’s place in the history of astronomy is inseparably connected with the contributions that he and Mädler made between 1830 and 1840 to selenography and solar-system studies in general […] This map, based on its author’s observations made at Beer’s private observatory with a Fraunhofer refractor of only 9.4-centimeter free aperture, constitutes a milestone in the development of selenographical literature. It was the first map to be divided into four quadrants […] and contained a remarkably faithful representation of the moon’s face as it is visible through a 4-inch refractor. Its topographic structure was based on the positions of 105 fundamental points measured micrometrically by Beer and Mädler' (DSB).

Large folding lithographic map, the lunar disc with a diameter of 975mm, dissected into 16 panels and mounted on linen, as issued, the map divided into four quadrants numbered in Roman. Contained within original publisher’s cloth portfolio and leather-backed slipcase. 1025 x 1025mm.

A. Mikhailov (inscriptions to lower left and lower right, the latter dated 1919; possibly relating to Russian astronomer Aleksandr Mikhailov (1888-1983)) – erased ink inscription to lower right, possibly German.

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