Note 4 — WILLEM JANSZOON BLAEU

This great copper globe, which Picard describes as having a diameter of 4 feet 7 inches and 1 line, constructed in Augsburg under the direction of Paul Hainzel, appears to have been sent to Uranienburg about 1584. In the course of succeeding years more than one thousand stars were represented on its surface according to the observations of Tycho Brahe. In 1597 the great astronomer left Denmark to find a home in Prague, taking with him his astronomical instruments, including his celestial globe. After Brahe’s death in 1601, these instruments were purchased by Rudolph II, but on the capture of the City of Prague in 1623 by the Danish Prince Ulrich the globe with other objects of interest was taken to Copenhagen. Here it remained until 1728, when it was destroyed by fire together with the castle in which it had so long been kept.