Catalogue chinoise des etoiles: manuscript

Collection — Volume: 1

Identifier: BC-2025-156

Catalogue chinoise des etoiles

Scope and Contents

Manuscript treatise on Chinese constellations and astronomy, including a translation of Bu Tian Ge, a Chinese star catalogue in verse attributed to Wang Ximing.

Dates

Creation: 1734

Creator

Gaubil, Antoine, 1689-1759 (Person)

Language of Materials

In French.

Access Note

Open for research; digital version also available.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note: Antoine Gaubil

French Jesuit missionary. Antoine Gaubil entered the Society of Jesus in 1704. In 1722 he was sent to China as a missionary, residing there until his death in 1759. He published numerous works on astronomy and chronology.

Full Extent

1 Volumes : 108 leaves, 1 folded leaf of plates; charts ; 33 x 25 cm

Additional Description

Custodial History

Formerly in the collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps; later owned by Philip Robinson; sold as part of Robinson's Chinese library at Sotheby's, London, 22 November 1988, lot 42.

Provenance

Purchased from HS Rare Books, 2025.

Binding Information

Leaves bound in modern quarter leather with spine title: Manuscrit original de Gaubil. Recherches sur les constellations.

Processing Information

This manuscript is bound non-traditionally; as a result, the pages appear in reverse order in a few segments. The following information provides navigation instructions for both the analog original work and the digital copy.

1. Main text (read right to left): begins with image number 0164.tif and ends with image number 0010.tif. Page numbers are written in pencil at both the top and bottom of the pages. The top page numbers start with 1 (0164.tif), end at 78 (0010.tif), and indicate page sequence from right to left. Bottom page numbers start with 1 on the first image (0009.tif) and end at 79 (0164.tif), and indicate page sequence left to right.

2. Intro to Figures (read left to right): begins with image 0170.tif and ends with image 0174.tif. Page numbers are written in pencil on the upper-left corner of the pages and indicate page sequence left to right.

3. Figures (read right to left): begins with image 0227.tif (foldout) and ends with image 0176.tif. Page numbers are written in pencil. Placement of the numbers varies depending on the intended orientation of the drawings (figures are viewed horizontally).