BRAHE, Tycho (1546-1601). "Hvena" (caption title). [Extract from: BLAEU, Joan. Atlas Major, sive Cosmographia Blaviana, qua solum, salum, coelum accuratissime describuntur. Amsterdam: Johannes Blaeu, 1662.]

14 plates depicting Tycho Brahe's astronomical observatory and instruments on the island of Hven in the Danish Sound, extracted from Blaeu's great atlas. In 1576, King Frederick II conferred upon Brahe lifelong use of the island of Hven in the Danish Sound. There the astronomer constructed the most advanced astronomical observatory of his time, which he christened Uraniborg (Heavenly Castle), In 1584 he added a second observatory, Stjerneborg, with additional instruments in five subterranean rooms and a study with only the vaulted roof and the tops of the walls protruding above ground. Ultimately, he would fall out of favor and leave for Prague in 1597.

Folio (510 x 326mm). Manuscript title ("Tycho Brahe / 1662") bound at front, with printed title-page and front matter from Blaeu's atlas bound at rear, 14 hand-colored plates (only), mounted on new stubs (a little spotting, toning, one repaired tear touching image). Contemporary gilt-stamped Dutch vellum (rebacked, lower endpapers renewed). Sold as a collection of plates, not subject to return. Provenance: "Southesk" (inscription dated 1863 on title).