M0017324: Rear side of an astrolabe, 1572

Previous title, replaced October 2020: The back of an astrolabe.

Photograph of the rear side of a 1572 astrolabe showing the universal projection. The cursor for the scale is missing. An astrolabe is an instrument previously used to determine the altitude of the sun or other celestial bodies. Signed "HOC FACET [sic] VIVES" and inscribed "DON. COLVBINUS. DE. ALFIANO. MONACUS. VALLIS. VMBROSE. VTEBATUR. MD.LXXII" [Don Columbino de Alfiano, Monk of Vallombrosa, 1572]. It was acquired by the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum prior to 1923 and accessioned in 1959 (accession number R64/1959). It is not held by Wellcome Collection. Related images: M0017322-M0017327

April 1959

1 photograph glass plate negative; 10.2 x 12.7 cm

Wellcome Collection holds the accession register which provides an entry for the item: R64/1959

Copyright is held by Wellcome Collection

Catalogue data comes from a combination of entries in the original glass plate registers, metadata created when the glass plates were digitised in the early 2000s and enhancements made by the cataloguer in 2022.

Please consult the digitised version as this item is fragile. Email library@wellcomecollection.org to request access to the physical item.