Goldbach, Christoph Friedrich

Neuester Himmels-Atlas zum Gebrauche für Schul- und Akademischen Unterricht. Weimar: Verlage des Industrie-Comptoirs, 1799



Oblong quarto (9⅝ x 11¾ in.;  252 x 299 mm). 58 maps (4 plain, 54 numbered 2–27 and printed with black grounds, one depicting the plain star field, the other delineating the various figures of the constellations), 2 additional lithographed maps (one printed on blue paper) inserted at the end; repairs to 2 short marginal tears on plates 9 and 22 just touching the plates, washed and pressed, with residual soiling to title-page.  Modern half blue morocco, marbled boards, title from original wrappers cut round and mounted.



First edition.

Linda Hall, Out of this World, 34; Poggendorff I:925; Warner, Sky Explored 96; not in Houzeau-Lancaster

Goldbach was a professor of astronomy in Moscow and a member of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. His star atlas, designed for the use of amateurs and beginners, is a fairly exact copy of the Bode Flamsteed edition of 1782, with two striking differences. The most obvious is that Goldbach's star maps are white on a black background, which was achieved by printing the engraved plates in relief rather than in intaglio.  The second modification is that a matching plate is provided on the facing page with the constellation figures omitted. While Goldbach's atlas was not the first showing white stars against a dark background, it was the first of this kind to attract the attention of astronomical circles in Paris. Lalande noted that the method succeeded very well; Montucla praised its resemblance to a clear night sky (Warner).