Celestial globe 15 inch (only 3 other copys known.)

Title below Cetus in a cartouche : Uranographia Caelum omne hic Complectens, Illa pro ut aucta et ad annum 1700 Completum MAGNO ab HEVELIO correcta est: ita, ejus ex Prototypis, sua noviter haec Ectypa veris Astronomiae culturibus exhibet et consecrat GER. Et LEON VALK; Amsterdaedamensis Cum Priviligio.

Rare state 2 (of 4). V.d.Krogt only mentions three other copies in the Rubenhuis in Antwerp, Museum Boerhaave, Leiden and Rijksmuseum Muiderslot, Muiden.

Giving the celestial globe its own name is a striking novelty by Valk, which was not imitated by others. “Uranographia” is the title of Johannes Hevelius 1687 celestial atlas, which was also the source for Valk’s celestial globes.
By this Valk introduced a new graphic style of the constellations, by no longer using the ‘old-fashioned’ Saenredam style of Blaeu and Hondius globes. The engraving of the globe was done by the master engraver Carolus de La Haye, based on Andreas Stech’s design.

The date of the epoch is mentioned : ‘et ad annum 1700 Completum’..
The two sets of twelve finely engraved and hand-colored gores and two polar calottes (70°) are in fine contemporary coloring, and the stars gilted. The axis running through the celestial poles, the equatorial graduated in individual degrees and labelled every 10°, the ecliptic graduated in individual days of the houses of the Zodiac, with sigils and labelled every ten days.

The constellations finely depicted by mythical beasts and figures, a table entitled SUPER EMINET OMNES around a sun face showing the stars to six orders of magnitude, also with symbols for nebulae, all the stars picked out in gilt paint within the finely-engraved constellations depicted by mythical beasts and figures, the constellations and some individual stars labeled in Latin

Dark impression, in contemporary coloring, stars gilted, with minor defects at various segment corners; a little soiled and darkened but in general very good.
Rotating on a late 19th century wooden stand in black varnish.

Traditionally an engraver, Gerard Valk (or Gerrit Leendertsz Valck) (1652-1726), set up in the map business in 1679 in partnership with his brother-in-law Pieter Schenk, acquiring copper plates from a variety of map dealers and sellers. Around 1700 Gerard moved to the centre of Amsterdam, took over premises once belonging to Jodocus Hondius, and was taught the art of globe making by Pieter Maasz Smith.
In 1711 Gerard's son Leonard (1675-1746) joined his father in the globe making business and together they produced terrestrial and celestial globes. Interestingly they did not rely on existing copper plates of the 'old school' but instead designed a totally new pair of globes based on up-to-date astronomical and geographical information.
Gerard and Leonard Valk were the only publishers of globes in the Netherlands during the 18th century. After Leonard's death the firm continued under the leadership of Maria Schenk. Towards the end of the 18th century the globe factory came in possession of Cornelis Covens (1764-1825).

Reference: v.d.Krogt, Globi Neerlandici, pp. 313-323, VAL III, state 2 (of 4). V.d.Krogt only mentions three other copies (Rubenhuis, Antwerp, Museum Boerhaave, Leiden, Rijksmuseum Muiderslot, Muiden)