Bartak, Johann Baptist. Gemeinfassliche Anleitung zur leichten Kenntniss des gestirnten Himmels mittelst einer beigefügte grossen Sternkarte. Vienna, 1827.
Bartak’s large celestial map is mounted on linen, and when folded up on the shelf, it shares a slipcase with a slim text volume that is a popular introduction to the heavens. Unlike Meissner’s atlas of maps (exhibit item 7), which was also a companion to a Gemeinfassliche Anleitung (Popular introduction), Bartak’s map avoids both constellation figures and constellation boundaries. Instead Bartak connected the prominent stars in each constellation with lines, making various-shaped geometric figures that are easily distinguishable from each other – a practice that would become increasingly common lates in the century. That, and his use of well-defined symbols for the different magnitudes of stars, makes for an exceptionally clear star map.
The section of the map above shows the region of Auriga (Fuhrmann), Perseus, and Andromeda; the section below shows Gemini (Zwillinge) and Canis minor (Kl. Hund). The Brighter stars are labeled with their traditional names, such as Capella in Auriga, Algol in Perseus, and Castor and Pollux in Gemini.
Because this map was intended for casual views in Germany, Bartak did not feel compelled to show stars below the horizon, and so there is no second map here, depicting the southern constellations.
The Bartak map is very scarce; we have been unable to locate any other copies.