DE LA HIRE, P. / DE FER, N. / DESNOS, S. Planisphère céleste Septentrional. . . / Planisphère céleste méridional. . . Paris, Desnos, 1775. 465 x 465 mm. Hemispheres printed on bluish paper. Dusty margins for the northern hemisphere. Wide margins. Very fine period colors. Set of 3 plates. Magnificent pair of celestial maps depicting the northern and southern celestial hemispheres by the famous French astronomer Philippe de La Hire. Surrounded by astronomical notes in the corners. Engraved by Van Loon. Gabriel Philippe de la Hire was one of France's most renowned astronomers and a member of the Académie royale des sciences. De La Hire's constellation figures are influenced by those of Johann Bayer and, according to Warner, De la Hire used Sir Edmund Halley as one of the main sources for the text surrounding the constellations. De la Hire (1640-1718) studied art in Italy before turning to science and mathematics. De La Hire's constellations were first published by Nicolas De Fer, then republished by his son-in-law, Guillaume Danet, and his successor, Louis-Charles Desnos. Joint: DESNOS, Louis-Charles. La Sphère artificielle ou armilaire oblique, élevée sur l'horizon à la latitude de Paris. Paris, Desnos, 1781. 43.5 x 67 cm. Period colors. Heavy dampening, foxing. Armillary sphere surrounded by two celestial planispheres, two hemispheres and various spheres and diagrams.