Johann Georg Bodenehr

Three comets over Augsburg, including Halley's Comet in 1682, by Bodenehr in 1682.

• Johann Georg Bodenehr (German).
• Ihr Betrachter und Beobachter der täglich-neuen Weltbegebenheiten.
• Augsburg: Johann Georg Schönigk, 1682-3.
• Engraving set in German letterpress, with pasted text label.
• This work is presented unframed.

The title page to a Viewer and Observer of Daily World Events.

Illustrated with a view of Augsburg, Death is riding a horse with two other riders in the foreground and two comets overhead.

Around the view is a clock dial with allegorical figures and Biblical quotations in the corners. The numerals of the clock consist of bones, a punishment whip, swords and other weapons, interspersed with skulls, reiterating the text's assertion that the comets were harbingers of doom.

The letterpress dates the comets at 1680 and 1682, the latter being the appearance of Halley's Comet chronicled by John Flamsteed, data that allowed Edmond Halley to identify its 75-77 year orbit.

The label updates the title to include another great comet that appeared in 1683. Later editions have the third comet engraved on the plate.