Lot Essay
A rarely seen edition of the Jones New Portable Orrery.
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JOHN JONES, CIRCA 1790
Details
A GEORGE III ORRERY
JOHN JONES, CIRCA 1790
The 12½-inch instrument comprised of working geared mechanism carrying a 1½-inch globe made up of twelve hand-coloured engraved gores, graduated equatorial, ecliptic and one meridian, Tasmania as a peninsula in New Holland, with brass twilight pointer and held above an angled ring to alter the height of the ivory moonball, a secondary ring graduated with the sigils for the houses of the Zodiac, and a disc showing the phases of the moon, on a complex multi-wheeled geared mechanism, at the centre the brass sunball mounted on the central axis, with planet arms for ivory planet Mercury and Venus, and brass index pointer; detachable, ivory handled crank handle, replacement oil lamp for sunball, the printed paper horizon plate with overlain cartouche Sold by J. Jones No135 the corner of Bell & Crown Inn Holborn, London a different, probably earlier, issue to the 1794 commonly seen. Graduated around the red-painted edge with days of the month and of the houses of the Zodiac with names, sigils and pictures, compass directions and degrees of amplitude and azimuth, circle for EARTH'S ANNUAL ORBIT, inner circle a map of solar system's outer planets with paths of comets, the latest being 1789. Housed in original oak case.
13½ x 13½ x 7½in. (34 x 34 x 19cm.)
JOHN JONES, CIRCA 1790
The 12½-inch instrument comprised of working geared mechanism carrying a 1½-inch globe made up of twelve hand-coloured engraved gores, graduated equatorial, ecliptic and one meridian, Tasmania as a peninsula in New Holland, with brass twilight pointer and held above an angled ring to alter the height of the ivory moonball, a secondary ring graduated with the sigils for the houses of the Zodiac, and a disc showing the phases of the moon, on a complex multi-wheeled geared mechanism, at the centre the brass sunball mounted on the central axis, with planet arms for ivory planet Mercury and Venus, and brass index pointer; detachable, ivory handled crank handle, replacement oil lamp for sunball, the printed paper horizon plate with overlain cartouche Sold by J. Jones No135 the corner of Bell & Crown Inn Holborn, London a different, probably earlier, issue to the 1794 commonly seen. Graduated around the red-painted edge with days of the month and of the houses of the Zodiac with names, sigils and pictures, compass directions and degrees of amplitude and azimuth, circle for EARTH'S ANNUAL ORBIT, inner circle a map of solar system's outer planets with paths of comets, the latest being 1789. Housed in original oak case.
13½ x 13½ x 7½in. (34 x 34 x 19cm.)
Special notice
Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.
Brought to you by
James Hyslop