Q: What other kinds of celestial globes might be of interest to a collector?
A: Here is a teeny 3-inch celestial pocket globe, in its own little carrying case (below center). It was made in London in the early 19th Century for British amateur astronomers [by the Cary firm]. Here is another London globe, by Newton, but it is mounted on a charming little stand (below right). It looks like a miniature floor globe. In contrast, here is a full size celestial floor globe made by Gilman Joslin of Boston in the late 19th century (below left), the same maker that produced the little pair of globes we saw earlier. You can see that it has the lovely brightly colored constellation figures.
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From left to right: Gilman Joslin Floor Globe, |
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 Hammond 12-Inch Celestial |
Q: How common are they? Maybe some of our viewers have one of these globes in their attic waiting to be discovered? A: Well perhaps, though those examples are fairly rare. Sometimes 19th century globes are found in American houses, around from the days when they were used in schoolrooms. Here are two 20th Century globes that are more commonly encountered. This Hammonds American globe from the 1940s eliminates showing constellations figures; instead the stars are connected by simple straight lines. Here is the big and little dipper in the Northern Sky. This Rand McNally globe, from about the 1960s, has a midnight blue sky, and still shows the constellation figures in full form. |
 Rand McNally 12-Inch Celestial Globe |
Interview Questions
- What is a celestial globe?
- Are the astrological signs of the zodiac shown?
- How are Urania's Mirror Cards used?
- What is a planisphere used for?
- How long ago was the first celestial globe made?
- What other kinds of celestial globes might be of interest to a collector?
- How common are one of these globes?
- Are these globes very expensive for a collector?
- Further Information: More Exploration on Celestials