Kepler's World Map, 17th century. This map is from Tabulae Rudolphinae (Rudolphine Tables, 1627) by the German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630). This was Kepler's major work, published a few years before his death. It consisted of a star catalogue and planetary tables based on Kepler's calculations using observations made by Tycho Brahe. The title and text is in Latin, and the double-headed and crowned eagle is the symbol of Kepler's imperial patrons (the Holy Roman Empire). The map is centred on the Old World of Europe and Africa, with the partly discovered New World of the Americas at left. A scroll description is at lower left.