Theory of the Seasons [and] National Debts of Foreign Countries, compared with the United States, 1890

An interesting visual from a 19th-century atlas.

This late 19th-century chart outlines different celestial phenomena in vibrant printed color, including the seasonal changes, eclipses, the solar system, and tides. The verso shows a visual comparison of various nations’ national debts in relation to their population. Australasia tops the list at a staggering $212 per person as the British colony borrowed its way into relevance. Portugal holds second place at $144 debt per capita, which would eventually lead to state bankruptcy in 1892.