[Bevis, John

Oblong folio (368 x 483mm.), engraved frontispiece showing Frederick Prince of Wales dressed as Caesar accepting a copy of the atlas from Urania, index leaf and 51 engraved star charts, recent calf-backed boards, housed in cloth box, lacking title but title-page from 1786 edition loosely inserted, light marginal browning

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A fine copy of John Bevis's rare "unpublished" star atlas.

Of the original atlas only a few proofs or complimentary copies were issued, the publisher going bankrupt because of the high cost of the engravings. The plates passed to the creditors and were later used for the Atlas Celeste 1786, itself a very rare work. This work was based on Bayer’s Uranometria but includes about 5 times as many stars, with Bayer’s positions corrected. The last two plates represent the northern and southern hemispheres.

Also with the atlas are: The British Library reproduction, Reproduction of the Text in the Library of the American Philosophical Society, 1987; Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, vol.125: no.1 (February 1981). And The Map Collector, no.39, (Summer 1987).