Terrestrial and celestial globes; their history and ... - 24grammata.com

Terrestrial and Celestial Globes.
The Lenox copy of the terrestrial gores (Fig. 63) is ded-
icated to "Eximio Viro: D: I: P: A Monte Maiore," while
the celestial gores (Fig. 64) carry the dedication "Eximio
Viro D. Gabrieli a Tiesbach." Marcel is of the opinion that
the dedication of the first to "Monte Maiore" refers to a
prelate of the illustrious house of Granmont, whose name in
the sixteenth century was often spelled Grandmont, and
that Gabrieli Tiesbach (Diesbach) belonged to a family of
Besangon, originally from Freiburg, and that he was a knight
of St. George. The author and date legend of the first reads
"Faciebat Franciscus De Mongenet anno 1552," while that
of the second reads "Elaborabat Franciscus De Mongenet.
Anno 1552." The gores of each map as printed measure
from pole to pole 13.7 cm., the length of the equatorial line
being 27.5
cm. Around each set there is a narrow black bor-
der. A zodiacal circle is likewise printed on the first
sheet 5 cm. in width, and of sufficient length to encompass
the gores when mounted, being divided into twelve parts,
in which, in regular order, are the figures of the twelve
zodiacal constellations. With but few exceptions the several
inscriptions are in small capitals, and are well executed.
The draughtsmanship which the terrestrial map exhibits
in all parts, as well as that exhibited by the celestial, dis-
plays skill of very considerable merit. The general outline
of the New World's coasts is quite as well done as on any
of the maps of the day, the Pacific coast line of North
America sweeping in a great curve northward and northeastward,
while a great broad stretch of ocean separates the
continent from Asia. In North America we find only the
inscriptions "Hispania maior" and "baccalea." South America
bears the inscription "America," so extended as to cover
the continent. The names of geographical localities are com-
paratively few, the size of the globe making it impossible
to insert many details.
On a second pair of De Mongenet's globes, referred to by
Marcel, the dedications and inscriptions differ slightly from
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