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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'The construction and use of spherical mapps, or such as are delineated upon portions of a spherical surface' by John Colson

Reference number: CLP/7ii/15

Date: 27 November 1735

Description

Colson suggests that geographical mapps, and hydrographical charts, 'though they are representations of a convex spherical surface, yet were first delineated upon planes', are 'the most easy and obvious, though not the most natural and accurate representations.' He describes the construction and use of spherical maps or globes.

Subject: Cartography

Read to the Royal Society on 27 November 1735

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'The construction and use of spherical maps, or such as are delineated upon portions of a spherical surface'

Reference number
CLP/7ii/15
Earliest possible date
27 November 1735
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
8 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Colson

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Citation

John Colson, Paper, 'The construction and use of spherical mapps, or such as are delineated upon portions of a spherical surface' by John Colson, 27 November 1735, CLP/7ii/15, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_7ii_15/paper-the-construction-and-use-of-spherical-mapps-or-such-as-are-delineated-upon-portions-of-a-spherical-surface-by-john-colson, accessed on 28 April 2025

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_7ii_15/paper-the-construction-and-use-of-spherical-mapps-or-such-as-are-delineated-upon-portions-of-a-spherical-surface-by-john-colson

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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