[Francis G. Pease's photographs of space, used by Edwin Hubble to identify new galaxies.] Five framed photographic astronomical prints of images by Pease, taken from Mount Vernon. Owned by Charles Chilton ('Journey into Space').

Five black and white prints, all laid down on mount and in glass frame. Later prints (1940s) rather than the early silver gelatin ones. Each with manuscript caption at foot of mount, and Negative Number written in manuscript on reverse of frame. Each print in excellent condition. All five behind glass in worn plain black frames. From the papers of Charles Chilton, the creator and producer of the influential BBC Radio series 'Journey into Space' (1953-1958), which numbered among its admirers Stephen Hawking and Colin Pillinger. 1908 Pease became an astronomer and instrument maker at the Mount Wilson Observatory, and he designed its 100-inch Hooker Telescope, the largest in the world from its completion in 1917 until 1949. The present five items are artefacts of a great moment in scientific history: the point at which Edwin Hubble was able to establish that there were other galaxies than the Milky Way. Hubble had joined Mount Wilson in 1917, and it was by means of images such as three of these five, taken by Pease, that Hubble was able to discover and classify the various types of galaxy. The other two images are of the moon, and are among those used by Gene Shoemaker to make its first geologic map. The five photographic prints are as follows. ONE: Caption: 'A PORTION OF THE MOON, ERATOSTHENES to ARISTILLES. MOUNT WILSON, 1919.' Negative No. 4650. Dimensions of print: 24.5 x 19.5 cm. Dimensions of frame: 28 x 23.5 cm. TWO: Caption: 'MOON REGION NEAR SOUTH POLE. MOUNT WILSON, 1919.' Negative No. 424/37. This image was made by Pease on 15 September 1919, and published in 1922 in G. E. Hale's 'New Heavens'. Dimensions of print: 27.5 x 22.5 cm. Dimensions of frame: 31.5 x 27 cm. THREE: Caption: 'ELLIPTICAL AND IRREGULAR NEBULAE. (M.)' Negative No. 420/37. This image was included in Hubble's landmark 1926 paper 'Extra-galactic Nebulae'. Dimensions of print: 24.5 x 18.5 cm. Dimensions of frame: 29 x 23 cm. FOUR: Caption: 'SPIRAL NEBULAE. (HUBBLES CLASSIFICATION.)' Negative No. 419/37. Dimensions of print: 25.5 x 18.5 cm. Dimensions of frame: 30 x 23 cm. FIVE: Caption: 'MILKY WAY – REGION OF OPHIUCHI.' Negative No. 418/37. Dimensions of print: 22.5 x 22.5 cm. Dimensions of frame: 27 x 27 cm.