A beautiful pair of Library Globes.
H. 125 cm. (49 inches), Diam. 53 cm. (21 inches)
The two spheres are in a perfect state of freshness and are perfectly legible. There have been some professional repairs to some damaged gores. The Terrestrial globe is in good conserved and legible condition, it has areas of rubbing, retouching, and slight discoloration. The Celestial globe is also in good conserved and legible condition with areas of rubbing, retouching, and slight discoloration. The gores themselves have been cleaned and revarnished. The splendid mahogany legs and molded feet are in first-class condition. Each globe consists of 12 hand-coloured copper engraved gores over a paper-maché hollow core, made up of two hemispheres joined at the equator and covered with a layer of plaster. There are paper horizon rings, made up of a series of concentric circles, displaying the months of the year, the signs of the zodiac, and wind directions.
THE TERRESTRIAL GLOBE: The globe provides much detailed information, and was accurate up to the date of production, which in this case is the mid-19th century. It shows the latest discoveries and developments that have taken place. It displays names and territories that were once familiar to the people of the age, 150 years into the future! In Asia for example, there are places like ‘Little Bucharia’, ‘Little and Greater Tartary’, and ‘Russia in Asia.’ Undoubtedly, the continent has changed more than any other in Africa. So many African countries that we know and recognize now, had different, perhaps more ‘Colonial’ names more than a century and a half ago. There was ‘Nubia’ (Sudan/Egypt), ‘Abyssinia’ (Ethiopia), ‘Cape Colony’ (South Africa), and ‘Dahomey’ (Benin) to name a few. Australia was a little over 50 years away from its union via the ‘Federation’ in 1901. This brought about the Commonwealth of Australia. However, in 1850 there were six separate British self-serving colonies, ruled directly from England. In North America, both Los Angeles and San Francisco are incorporated as cities into California – as it becomes the 31st U.S. state. Much of the mid-western and western USA was known as ‘The Western Territory’ & ‘The Missouri Territory’, Florida was still referred to as ‘East & West Florida’. Canada was split into ‘Canada East’ & ‘Canada West.’ Canada East was primarily (for historical reasons) French-speaking, and Canada West was primarily English-speaking. Much of Western Canada remained unexplored and undeveloped. In Europe, there was still the ‘Russian Empire’, the ‘Ottoman Empire’, the ‘Austro-Hungarian Empire’, and the German-Prussian Empire.’
THE CELESTIAL GLOBE: The Celestial Globe displays the stars, constellations, clusters, and nebulae in a beautiful and well-thought-out manner. Mythical figures and signs of the zodiac are seen. The equinoctial and solstitial colures are graduated in degrees. Although the colour is somewhat muted, it takes nothing away from the overall beauty and the undoubted aesthetic qualities of the globe.
Georges Frederick CRUCHLEY (active 1797-1880) was a London-based book and map seller, active in the mid-19th century. He worked with the Cary firm, and in 1850 he appended his name to the address 81 Fleet Street in London. This address is covered over the globe, as is often the case with the reseller’s corporate name. Cruchley began his cartographic career as an apprentice in the venerable film Aaron Arrowsmith. Many of Cruchley’s early maps have the words “From Arrowsmith” on the imprint. In 1844 Cruchley acquired the massive stock of the important early 19th century firm, John Cary. Cruchley published his maps as well as reissues of Cary’s stock until the 1870s. He is best known for his detailed plans for London, which in recent years have become increasingly rare and desirable. Cruchley was based in London at 38 Ludgate Street until 1834 when he moved his office to 81 Fleet Street. Shortly before he died in 1880, Cruchley auctioned off (Hodgson’s Auctions, January 16, 1877) all of his stock. Many of his map plates were thus acquired by “Gall and Inglis” who continued the Cruchley tradition until the early 20th century. Cruchley’s son, also George Frederick (1837-1882), continued to work as a book and map seller until his death.