ID 794388
Lot 55 | HERSCHEL, William (1738-1822) and Caroline (1750-1848)
Estimate value
£ 15 000 – 25 000
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.
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Preview |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.