Bone china plate commemorating the tercentenary of the founding of the Royal Observatory By Charles II in 1675. It is number 320 of a limited edition of 1,000 and is printed in black and gold. In the centre of the plate, a 17th century star map of the Northern Hemisphere, on which are superimposed portraits of the first 11 astronomers royal. On the border are the Old Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Herstmonceux Castle and four astronomical instruments. A repeating 17th century star motif separates the instruments. Printed on the underside to identify the designs on the rim as follows: 'GREENWICH PHOTOGRAPHIC ZENITH TUBE (modern) ISAAC NEWTON 98 inch REFRACTING TELESCOPE (modern) HERSTMONCEUX 'GREAT' EQUITORIAL 12 ¾ inch REFRACTING TELESCOPE 1861 FLAMSTEED'S EQUATORIAL MOUNTED SEXTANT WITH TELESCOPE 1676'. In the centre: 'THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY PLATE To mark the Tercentenary of the Founding of the Royal Observatory by King Charles II in 1675.', 'ASTRONOMERS ROYAL / John Flamsteed 1646-1719 Period of Office 1675-1719 / Edmond Halley 1656-1742 1720-1742 / James Bradley 1692-1762 1742-1762 / Nathaniel Bliss 1700-1764 1762-1764 / Nevil Maskelyne 1732-1811 1765-1811 / John Pond 1767-1836 1811-1835 / George Airy 1801-1892 1835-1881 / William Christie 1845-1922 1881-1910 / Frank Watson Dyson 1868-1939 1910-1933 / Harold Spencer Jones 1890-1960 1933-1955 / Richard Woolley 1906 1956-1971', 'Commissioned especially by Harrods'. The maker's mark is printed on the base.