JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
People no doubt remember Raul Revere (1735-1818) as a patriot, silversmith, and illustrator of the iconic image of the Boston Massacre. Lesser known is his work in book, pamphlet, and magazine illustration--and what I am concerned with presently are a few of his gloriously-country-sympatico technical works. A fine example is this woodcut from the cover of Samuel Stearns' The North-American Almanac for 1772--a very strong mariner's compass:
[Image source: the American Antiquarian Society, here: http://www.americanantiquarian.org/Inventories/Revere/illustrations.htm]
Another example is this fine woodcut "A Projection of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiack" that appeared on the cover of The North-American's calendar and gentlemen and ladies diary in 1772:
[Image source: the American Antiquarian Society, here: http://www.americanantiquarian.org/Inventories/Revere/illustrations.htm]
One interesting piece to this--besides the large compass--are the two figures at bottom who are engaged in conversation--the man to the left seems to be surveying the compass, while the bearded man on the right (nearly entirely consumed in the background) holds a telescope and is strongly pointing at...something. And who better to draw a compass than Mr. Revere?
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