Autograph manuscript astronomical observations, n.p., n.d. [?1788].

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HERSCHEL, William (1738-1822) and Caroline (1750-1848)

Autograph manuscript astronomical observations, n.p., n.d. [?1788].

成交價英鎊 18,900

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HERSCHEL, William (1738-1822) and Caroline (1750-1848)
Autograph manuscript astronomical observations, n.p., n.d. [?1788].
c.99 slips in total, approx. 35 x 160mm each (bundle: 35 x 160 x 25mm), drafted by William Herschel on rectos only, in pen with occasional pencil annotations. Contemporary paper wrappers, one of these an autograph manuscript leaf by Caroline Herschel.

William and Caroline Herschel work together to survey the night sky: a compilation of their observations on the stars, based on Flamsteed’s Catalogue. On small slips of paper, William Herschel notes the observations made by the siblings on some of the stars listed in the 1725 catalogue of the English astronomer John Flamsteed. The slips are organised alphabetically by constellation, opening with Andromeda and closing with Virgo; William records, variously, the diameter, position in the constellation, shape, colour, nebulosity, and the quality of light emitted by each star. More descriptive impressions are also captured: many of the stars are ‘beautiful’, while the occasional exclamation mark or exhilarated turn of phrase – 3 Gemini is ‘a most remarkable phenomenon’ – bears witness to the excitement they shared in their joint endeavour.

[With:] Caroline Herschel. Autograph manuscript leaf, 22 December [17]88, observations on the progress of a comet through the Lyra constellation: ‘Hence the Comet preced P Lyra 7’ 5” in time and is in the parallel of the small star (P being double) See 5 Class 3rd Star of my brother’s Catalogue’.

The present observations, which were compiled by Caroline later in her life as a family memento, likely date to the years following 1783, when both William and Caroline Herschel acquired new means of surveying the night sky – for William, a new 20-foot telescope came into service, while he built a small ‘sweeper’ Newtonian telescope for Caroline – and began to work together to record their observations in a more systematic manner. At first, Caroline served as William’s assistant, recording his observations as he stood before the telescope, and it was for this work that she would be granted a salary of £50 per annum by George III, making her Britain’s first salaried female scientist. Later, she began to observe the night sky and make discoveries in her own right: at her brother’s suggestion, she began to work on revising Flamsteed’s 1725 Catalogue of stars, which had hitherto served as one of the siblings’ primary reference works: the slips bear Flamsteed’s reference and page numbers.

Constellations: Andromeda, Aquarius, Aquila, Auriga, Boötes, Canis minor, Capricorn, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cetus, Coma, Cygnus, Delphinus, Draco, Eridanus, Gemini, Hercules, Hydra, Lacerta, Leo, Lepus, Libra, Lynx, Monoceros, Navis, Orion, Perseus, Sagittarius, Scorpius, Serpens, Ophiuchus, Taurus, Ursa major and minor, Virgo.

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Eugenio Donadoni Senior Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

edonadoni@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2152

Autograph manuscript astronomical observations, n.p., n.d. [?1788].

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