Star Atlas Conservation at Blickling Estate

One of the world’s finest and rarest 17^th century atlases is set to go on display for the first time at the National Trust’s Blickling Estate in Norfolk, following specialist conservation.

Andreas Cellarius’ Harmonia macrocosmica is an outstanding example of Dutch cartography that experts class as a creative triumph of the Dutch Golden Age, a period from the 1570s to the 1670s when the Netherlands enjoyed commercial, military, and artistic prosperity. Wealthy Europeans desired the richly detailed and skilfully crafted Dutch paintings and prints produced during this period. Only about 20 copies of the atlas, published in 1661, are thought to survive worldwide.

The atlas describes theories about the movement of the stars, as they were understood in the 1600s. It was created at a pivotal time when thinking was shifting from the Ptolemaic belief (that the Earth is at the centre of the universe, and every planet, star, and moon circles around it), to the heliocentric belief that the sun is at the centre of our Solar System and the planets, moons, and other celestial bodies move around it.

It was during this period that Leuven, Antwerp, and Amsterdam became centres for the production of maps that combined lavish illustrations with advances in mapmaking techniques and scientific theories.

Little is known about the German-born author, Andreas Cellarius, who was a schoolteacher and then school rector. It may have been his Amsterdam-based publisher, Johannes Janssonius, who suggested he turn his attention to the celestial. A minor planet orbiting between Mars and Jupiter, ‘12618 Cellarius’, was discovered in 1960 and named in his honour.

“Some of the ideas in the book seem strange to us now, but the stunning illustrations leave no doubt that Cellarius and his contemporaries were just as awestruck by the night sky as we are today.

“This large folio was meant to be displayed and celebrated for its size and opulence. Owning it told the world about your status and intelligence.

“It was aimed at wealthy, learned collectors who valued it as a reference work, beautifully produced. The gold-tooled bindings and hand-coloured plates are spectacular; it is the height of the copper engraver’s skill.”

- Rebecca Feakes, Property Librarian

The atlas is one of 10,000 items – including atlases, manuscripts, early books and pamphlets – in Blickling’s library, one of the most important in the care of the National Trust. The collection was gifted to Blickling’s then-owner John Hobart in 1742, by his uncle, scholar Richard Ellys and due to its size, it is still being catalogued and studied today.

The Cellarius atlas is one volume from a lavish set of 14 atlases by great Dutch Golden Age mapmakers, which have been at Blickling since they were acquired in the 17th century. The full series of atlases comprise: Le Grand Atlas ou Cosmographie Blaviane (Amsterdam, Jean Blaeu, 1663, 13 volumes), Harmonia Macrocosmica (Amsterdam: Andreas Cellarius, 1661, 1 volume) and L’Atlas de mer ou monde aquatique (Amsterdam: Hendrick Doncker, 1667, 1 volume).

Over three months, a book conservation specialist stabilised the binding of the atlas, which was dry and brittle, and also the text block and plates, which had suffered from tears and splits.

“The parchment on the spine of the atlas was extremely dry and fractured, with large areas of loss, leaving it almost impossible to handle. It was not in a state that it could be used or displayed to visitors. Many of the pages within were torn and crumpled and in need of repair. Beautiful, hand-coloured, engraved plates had become loose and were at risk of further damage.

“As the spine was in such a poor state of repair the decision was taken to remove the remaining fragments and line them with Japanese paper. The losses were then infilled and the spine built-up using laminates of Japanese paper. The endbands were resewn, and the repaired spine was re-adhered. Within the book many paper repairs were carefully carried out and the decorative plates reattached.”

- Clare Prince, Book Conservator responsible for the work

The Star Atlas will be on display in Blickling’s Upper Ante, alongside reproduction pages showing some of the remarkably unfaded illustrations. A star-inspired route will take visitors through the house, including the ground floor, basement kitchen and some of the first-floor showrooms.

“Thanks to our supporters, we have been able to carry out this conservation work so that our visitors can now explore this wonderful atlas and all that it has to offer. Researchers are once more able to learn from this fascinating book and we’re looking forward to having it open and on display for everyone to enjoy for the first time this November and December.

“It’s such a special item in the collection and now that it’s been conserved, we’ve decided to use it as the inspiration for this year’s Christmas experience. With a Journey Through the Stars theme, visitors will be able to view the atlas as well as explore star-filled rooms including a planetarium, the northern lights and star-inspired family activities.”

- Blickling Estate’s Property Curator, Megan Dennis

Journey Through the Stars takes place at Blickling Estate from Saturday 30 November until Sunday 5 January. The House opens at 11am and last entry is at 2.30pm. Closed on 24 and 25 December.

The shop and extensive second-hand bookshop will be open for a spot of Christmas shopping, and seasonal food, festive treats and warming drinks will be available in the Stables and Muddy Boots cafés.