Accession No
0064
Brief Description
21-inch celestial globe on stand, by J. and W. Cary, English, 1799
Origin
England; London; 181 Strand
Maker
J. and W. Cary
Class
astronomy
Earliest Date
1799
Latest Date
1799
Inscription Date
1799
Material
paper; wood; metal (brass, steel); glass
Dimensions
diameter 532 mm; horizon circle diameter 690 mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Inscription
‘Cary’s
NEW & Improved
CELESTIAL GLOBE
on which
Is carefully laid down the whole of the
STARS and NEBULÆ
Contained in the ASTRONOMICAL CATALOGUE of the
Revd Mr. Wollaston F.R.S.
Compiled from the Authorities of
FLAAMSTEED, DE LA CAILLE, HEVELIUS, MAYER
BRADLEY,HERSCHEL, MASKELYNE &c.
With an extensive number from the Works of Miss Herschel
The Whole adapted to the year 1800, and the
limits of each Constellation determined
by a boundary line
LONDON
Made & sold by J & W Cary No 181 Strand Mar 1 1799’ (globe)
Description Notes
21-inch celestial globe on stand, by J. & W. Cary, London, 1799. Plaster sphere with printed paper gores.
18 hand painted paper gores to celestial pole. Polar axis. Brass hour circle graduated I-XII twice, numbered by I subdivided to 5 minutes. Brass meridian circle graduated 0 - 90 - 0 and 90 - 0 - 90 from the poles, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 15´. Horizon circle with 4-piece printed calendar plate with months, zodiacal scale and wind ring. Set in tripod cradlewith fluted wooden legs. Compass set between legs; printed paper rose. 32 points graduated 0 - 90˚ - 0 - 90˚ - 0 and 0 - 360˚, numbered by 10˚, graduated to 1˚. Glazed.
References
Events
Description
Celestial globes modelled the heavens and the location of stars in relation to one another. Used to chart the location of the Earth in the universe and for geodesic calculations, these globes were useful in solving navigational and astronomical problems. The introduction of new printing technologies into the map-making industry rendered globes more widely available than earlier periods. Often they were sold as a set of two globes: celestial and terrestrial. This example was previously owned by the Sedgwick Museum at the University of Cambridge, and possibly functioned as a teaching aide. The star-chart depicted was taken from the astronomical catalogue of Francis Wollaston (1731–1815). The globe was produced by the instrument maker and map publisher John Cary (1755–1835) and his brother William Cary (1759–1825); the Cary firm became the leading globe-making producer in nineteenth-century Britain. In 1770, John began his apprenticeship to William Palmer of New Street Square London, and became a freeman in 1778. Three years later, John opened his globe-making business and convinced William to join him in the production of globes and planetaria; however, the two brothers maintained separate businesses with other projects.
14/01/2014
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 14/01/2014
FM:39911
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