• Width:
  12 and 17 total Inches
• Height:
  18 and 18 1/2 Inches
• Origin:
  England/Ireland

A rare and intriguing pair of Regency table globes crafted by the celebrated firm of J. & W. Cary of London, generally regarded as the greatest British globe makers of the late Georgian period. Each globe has aged to a beautiful patina and is set in its original mahogany stand. The terrestrial globe depicts the whole of the known world, as well as tracks indicating the voyages of Captain Cook and other navigators. The celestial globe not only depicts the stars in varying intensities, but also includes a monthly timetable.
To own these globes was to have a wealth of information at one's fingertips. Rendered in painstaking detail, each globe presents scientific understanding of the world and sky that would have been invaluable to all areas of business, including shipping, geography, and especially exploration.

There is commonly a significant difference between the dates of terrestrial and celestial pairings. Globe makers often made celestial models in advance, since the stars and constellations were considered established and unchanging. New lands were constantly being discovered around the world, and terrestrial models were almost always "made to order" to ensure accuracy. John and his brother William Cary collaborated to craft some of the finest globes ever created. Their expert design and craftsmanship soon allowed them to take command of the English globe-producing market. This distinguished pair represents an exceptionally rare find.

Each 12-inch globe is marked "Made & Sold by J. & W. Cary" in a large cartouche. The terrestrial globe is marked 1808 and the celestial globe is marked 1800.

Circa 1809

Terrestrial globe: 17" total width x 18" high
Celestial: 17" total width x 18 ½" high

The celebrated Cary family of cartographers and globe makers produced some of the greatest late Georgian globes. The firm was started in London in the late 18th century by John Cary, an engraver and dealer in maps who often worked in partnership with his brother William Cary, a scientific instrument maker. John Cary was a member of a new class of mapmaker, concentrating on geographical excellence rather than on decoration. The Cary brothers moved their business to 86 St. James's Street in about 1820, leaving the premises at 181 Strand to John Cary's sons George (c. 1788-1859) and John Jr. (1791 - 1852). They produced a variety of globes under the name G. & J. Cary from 1821 to about 1850.

References:
Globes from the Western World, 1993, Elly Dekker and Peter van der Krogt