Accession No
1586
Brief Description
18-inch celestial globe, by J. and W. Cary, English, 1816
Origin
England; London; Strand
Maker
J. and W. Cary
Class
astronomy
Earliest Date
1816
Latest Date
1816
Inscription Date
1816
Material
wood; paper; metal (brass)
Dimensions
d 461 mm; compass 210 mm; hour circle 80 mm; meridian circle 508 mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Transferred from the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge in 03/1971.
Inscription
‘CARY’S
NEW CELESTIAL GLOBE
on which are laid down
THE WHOLE of the STARS, NEBULAE etc
contained in the astronomical works of the
Revd F WOLLASTON FRS
De la Caille, Herschel, Hevelius, Mayer, Flamsteed, Bradley etc
London made and sold by J W Cary Strand March 1816’
(on compass rose) ‘J & W CARY STRAND LONDON’
Description Notes
18-inch celestial globe, by J & W Cary, London, 1816. Plaster sphere with printed paper gores.
18 engraved hand coloured paper gores meeting at ecliptic pole. Stars to 9th magnitude. Polar axis. Brass hour circle, divided I - XII, I - XII, numbered by I, subdivided to 5 minutes. Brass meridian circle divided 0 - 90˚ - 0, 90˚ - 0 - 90˚, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 20´. Horizon circle with 4 piece engraved calendar plate, 32 compass points and signs of zodiac. Mounted on tripod-cradle with brass knurled clamp on meridian circle. Turned fluted legs with castors. Compass bowl (glass missing) below cradle. Paper rose. 32 point divided 0 - 90˚ - 0 - 90˚ - 0.
Condition: fair
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 Institute of Astronomy 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:40193
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