75 Charles Blunt (1803–1878) - The Phenomena of the Seasons – Hand-Coloured aquatint (1849)

This antique astronomical illustration titled "The Phenomena of the Seasons" (No. 84) was published in The Beauty of the Heavens by Charles Blunt in London in 1842. The diagram presents an educational depiction of Earth's orbit around the sun and the seasonal variations caused by axial tilt. The elliptical path is shown with Earth at key positions, labeled with the months, highlighting the orientation of Earth’s axis in relation to the sun throughout the year. The luminous central sun is surrounded by finely detailed planetary positions and atmospheric shading. Designed for a broad Victorian audience, this visually engaging chart made complex astronomical principles accessible through elegant artistic interpretation.