Maria Mitchell, America’s first female astronomer, was a pioneer of astrophotography and the first scientist to photograph the Sun daily. Her work was groundbreaking—she captured photographs which are not just scientifically significant, but are great works of art. In celebration of the Earth in the context of its neighbors, and in Mitchell’s monumental achievements, we are reproducing five of her ‘Sun Spots’ in a handmade portfolio of prints.
In 1997, two hundred photographic plates were re-discovered in a closet of the old Vassar College Observatory (now renamed the Maria Mitchell Observatory and designated a National Historic Landmark), still in their original envelopes complete with hand-written observational notes by Mitchell and her students. We have reproduced five of these prints as a celebration of Mitchell’s incredible achievements, and as a celebration of our Earth in the context of its neighbors.
The portfolio includes the following:
A portfolio envelope, to store and protect your prints. Features genuine engraving on heavy textured archival stock.
A large broadside, printed letterpress, which includes an essay by Professor Debra Elmegreen, who holds the Maria Mitchell Professorship of Astronomy at Vassar College.
Five prints, reproduced from the original glass plates, on heavy archival stock.
