The Observatory at Pe-King

Mid-18th century view of the Beijing Ancient Observatory.

Originally constructed in the mid-15th century, during the Qing Dynasty, the Ancient Observatory at Peking (Beijing today) is one of the oldest pre-telescopic observatories in the world. In operation for four and a half centuries, the scientific establishment used a variety of instruments, many of which can be seen in this engraved print.

Identified among them are a celestial globe, quadrant, sextant, azimuthal horizon, and a zodiacal sphere. Engraved in London by William Henry Toms for an English version of Prevost’s Histoire Générale des Voyages.