"A Brief Reminder of the Comet Appearing over Augsburg, 12 November 1577" - Classic Historical Broadsheet Print

A rare and historically extraordinary example of 16th century German broadsheet printing and celestial reportage art, reproduced to capture the dramatic immediacy of this hand-coloured woodcut broadsheet recording the appearance of the Great Comet of 1577 over Augsburg. This glossy printed vintage historical print — published in Augsburg by Bartholme Käppeler Briefmaler im kleinen Sachsen Gäslein — is one of the most significant surviving documents of 16th century popular astronomical reportage.

• Paper: 200 GSM+
• Finish: Gloss
• Sizes: A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, A0, 20×30", 24×36", 30×40"
• Shipping: Free — rolled in protective cardboard tube

Published in 1577 to record the appearance of the Great Comet of 1577 over the city of Augsburg on 12 November, this remarkable hand-coloured woodcut broadsheet shows Augsburg's distinctive skyline with its towers and spires, watched by Reformation-era citizens as the comet blazes across the night sky. The accompanying German text interprets the comet as a divine warning of plague, war, and pestilence — typical of the Paracelsian astrological thinking of the period. The Great Comet of 1577 was observed across Europe and was famously studied by Tycho Brahe, who used his observations to prove that comets existed beyond the lunar sphere, overthrowing a key element of Aristotelian cosmology.

Today, 16th century German broadsheet comet prints are extraordinarily rare and important documents of early modern European scientific and cultural history. This reproduction is ideal for historians, astronomy enthusiasts, lovers of Renaissance and Reformation graphic art, or collectors of early modern European popular print culture. It makes a fascinating and deeply historical display piece.

Printed with a glossy finish on durable 200 GSM paper, this reproduction preserves the hand-coloured woodcut character of authentic 1577 German Reformation-era celestial broadsheet print art.

Sources for historical context:

• Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich – 16th century German broadsheet and comet reportage collection
• British Library – Early modern European astronomical broadsheet and popular print archive
• History of Science Museum, Oxford – Great Comet of 1577 and Tycho Brahe observational astronomy history

Disclaimer: While we do our best to upscale each poster to suit the different sizes, some may have small imperfections such as creases or blurred small script. This is normal from old posters that have been scanned or remade over time. We do our best and we are only human after all.