A fine terrestrial pocketglobe in its stand.

Diameter globe: 3 inch / 7.6 cm. – In its stand: 6.3 inches / 16 cm.

This delightful pocket (or miniature) globe has a delightful aged patina that is normal and entirely consistent with a globe of this age. The globe is in very good overall condition, there are a few minor flaws and blemishes but nothing major or serious. There are some slight discolorations to some extremities of some gores where they intersect or where the gores do not fit perfectly. There is some minor loss to gores to the southern coast of Australia (mostly to the southern ocean), and similar to some regions leading to the Arctic Circle.

The lovely dark mahogany stands and feet are in excellent condition, as is the graduated half brass meridian circle. Antique globes were made from a variety of materials. A laminated linen ball is divided into two halves to form the Erdapfel. The globe is reinforced with wood and overlaid with a map painted in sections. The map is drawn on paper, then pasted on a layer of parchment around the globe to give a 3D effect. A globe typically consists of 12 gores. 3” English miniature pocket globe, mounted on a mahogany stand with turned mahogany columns and trifolium bases with balled feet. It features metal pinions, and the globe itself is set in a graduated half-brass meridian circle. This attractive terrestrial globe was made when English globes were among the very finest in Europe, and in the world. Information was pouring in from all parts of the British Empire, and the British nations were eager to view all the latest explorations and discoveries first hand. Maps and globes were an effective and excellent way of fulfilling this desire and need.

This globe features faint original outline colouring that usually delineated countries, or any significant global borders or major boundaries. Most of the geography displayed would be recognizable to today’s student of the subject, although some antiquated geographical terminology is still used. For instance; Canada is still categorised as ‘British Territories’; Texas was then a fledgling republic under Sam Houston; California was still ruled by Mexico until it became a state in 1850; Australia was also called New Holland, and the entire eastern coast of the continent is labelled New South Wales; Tasmania was still called Van Diemen’s Land; Parts of Central Asia were known as the Chinese Empire; while portions of western Russia were labelled as Tartary; India was Hindostan; Thailand as Siam; Myanmar was known as Burmah.

The globe title is pasted with a red border in the North Pacific Ocean. The globe is so full of place names – both coastal and internal that at first glance, it all looks too much to take in. In addition, there are lakes, islands, rivers, and mountains. Running along the coastlines of western Europe, western Africa, and in the Atlantic ocean, you will view the tracks ‘John Gore 1780. John Gore was born in the then British Colony of Virginia in 1729 or 1730, died in 1790, and circumnavigated the globe four times. Gore’s experience in the Pacific and knowledge of Tahiti led to him being called up to join Cook’s 1768 Endeavour voyage to record the Transit of Venus. In 1776, Gore once again answered the call from Cook and the Admiralty and joined the HMS Resolution as First Lieutenant for Cook’s third voyage. Following Cook’s death in Hawaii, Charles Clerke, captain of Resolution’s sister ship, HMS Discovery, took command. Gore then assumed command of Discovery in Clerke’s place. When Clerke himself died shortly after, Gore took responsibility for the entire expedition and brought the ships home to England in October 1780. This is a wonderful opportunity to acquire an inexpensive, beautifully made globe that is fast approaching 200 years old. Globes of yesteryear are a fascinating document of science and technology, produced by highly specialised craftsmen, scholars, and gifted amateurs. Historically, globes are among the most ancient scientific instruments known to man. They can be dated back over two millennia and are still manufactured to this day. The earliest tradition of globe making is mainly concerned with celestial globes –man has always been fascinated and drawn to the heavens above.

Celestial globes have always enjoyed a precedent of terrestrial globes. Doubts about the feasibility of a terrestrial globe were firmly expressed by the Greek geographer Strabo, who wrote that such a globe would only make sense if its diameter were approximately 10 feet, presumably because only then could it furnish sufficient geographical detail! The great second-century Egyptian mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, and geographer, Claudius Ptolemy, also considered the large size of a globe to be somewhat of an obstacle, and noted a further shortcoming of a terrestrial globe – that one could not view the whole world on it in a single glance. As a result, terrestrial globes were not as popular until much later. The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are recognized as the high points of English globe making, and this globe illustrates this fact admirably. Many English globes were exported to the continent and throughout the world, many finding their way into famous scientific institutions, libraries, and the stately homes of gentlemen and aristocrats.

The real beauty of globes is that they can be considered to be “all things to all men”; to some they are useful and practical educational tools, (3D maps perhaps); to some others as beautiful and useful scientific instruments; and to more, they may be seen purely as decorative, beautiful pieces of furniture; to be envied and enjoyed, but more importantly, and above all, to be admired by all.