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The Encyclopedia of Horology

London, England · c. 1510 – 1562

Thomas Gemini

Partially verified

Maker of catalogued english astrolabe, english quadrant, latin-inscribed astrolabe

Life & work

Born in Lille, Thomas Geminus was a Flemish refugee who established himself in London as a prominent engraver and printer.

He began his professional activities in the 1540s, initially collaborating with Thomas Raynalde on medical publications. His notable work included the publication of the anatomical text Compendiosa totius anatomie delineatio, which featured intricate copperplate engravings. These plates, which removed superfluous background details from original woodcuts, represent the first instances of copperplate engraving performed in England.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • He successfully adapted medical anatomical studies for a broader audience, specifically aiming his works at unlatinized surgeons.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

3 catalogued objects are recorded under Thomas Gemini. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

Diagram

12345let downstripcleanoilregulateorder of work; never skip letting down the mainspring
Schematic: order of work at the bench. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Thomas Geminus, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.