Halley's Comet was named for Sir Edmund Halley, the royal astronomer. In 1682 Halley saw a comet in the sky. He investigated previous comet appearances (notably those of 1531 and 1607) and determined that the comet of 1682 was the same comet that had returned. It was on an eliptical orbit of our sun. Halley predicted that it would return again in 1758. When it did return in 1758, it received its name "Halley's Comet". Its orbit was almost exactly 76 years. A comet is a dirty snowball that orbits the sun. As it approaches the sun, it heats up and a tail appears, streaking away from the comet's head. The tail always points away from the sun.
A star map from 1757 showing the path of Halley's comet.
A star map from 1759 showing the path of Halley's comet.
One of the newest addition to my collection - a party favor for a 1910 Halley's Comet party. A stick was attached to the center, just under the comet's head, and the whole piece could be waved in the air. It shows the comet trying to swallow the Earth and then breaking apart after the attempt. The comet piece is brightly colored lithography on heavy card stock. It also has 2 crepe paper covered stars hanging from it. The overall size is 16 inches wide and 6 inches tall. The stick is almost 30 inches long and has been removed to make the piece framable. Rather incredible that it survived all these years.
In 1835, Halley's Comet was greeted by a new jewelry style in celebration of the Comet. These many varied types of pinshad a head and a tail to resemble the comet. They all have a similar, simple pin on the back to attach it. All are gold (carat can vary) and have a semiprecious stone or pearl in the head. These pieces from our collection are all from 1835. The size of the pin varies from 1.25 inches to 1.75 inches.
1835 gold comet pin with hairwork 1986 gold filled comet pin 1910 gold filled comet pin
1910 black celluloid & diamonte comet pin, probably English 1910 brown celluloid & diamonte comet pin, probably English
A rare, English, cut steel comet and tortoise shell hair slip or hair comb that was made in 1835. Every piece of steel is cut and polished and fit into frame of the piece.
An 18kt gold and diamond comet pin made in 1986 A 1910 18kt gold, sapphire, diamond & pearl comet pin
A rare, 1910 rhinestone celuloid comet pin A 1910 rhinestone comet pin with a blue center A 1910 rhinestone comet pin
A superb 1986 comet pin1910 Comet stickpin, gold with seed pearls, only 0.5 inches wide
A very rare 1858 stereo photograph of Donati's Comet over London.Donati's Comet of 1858
I buy these Surprise Tissue stereoviews of the comet, should you have one to trade or sell
In 1858, a comet with a beautiful curved tail appeared in the sky. It was one of the brightest comets of the 19th century. It was discovered by Giovanni Donati on June 2, 1858. The comet's image was captured in a series of French tissue stereoviews (two slightly angled views that when seen through a stereoviewer appear in 3 dimensions). These were called "surprise tissue" stereoviews since the comet would not appear until the card was held to the light. These 1858 stereoviews showed a daylight scene when illuminated from the front and a night time scene when lit from the back. They are rare and I constantly look for more. This is a view of an Aquaduct in or around Paris.
Many of these views were taken in and around Paris and are marked on the back as being of the Comete de 1858
The 1858 comet from a park in Paris. (Below left)
The 1858 comet on a surprise tissue from Paris. The image shows Niagara Falls, Canada. Interesting how the boat is only visible when lit from the back.
The 1858 Donati's comet on a surprise tissue possibly from Paris. The image shows a street scene, but the caption on the back is written in English. The 1858 Donati's comet on a surprise tissue at Hamburg, Germany, the canal behind Stubbenhuk. The caption on the back is written in French.
The 1858 Donati's comet on a surprise tissue from Paris. The view shows a scene, similar to one above of the Aquaduct in or near Paris, but the angle of the image is different.
More comet pieces - Page Two
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More comet pieces - Page Five
More comet pieces - Page Five A
More comet pieces - Page Five B
Rare Comet pieces For Sale - Page Six
Rare Comet pieces For Sale - Page Seven