[Thomas] Malby
3-Inch Terrestrial Pocket Globe
Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, London: 1853
Mahogany box
4 inches high, 3.5 inches diameter, box
$5,600
3-Inch Terrestrial Globe in Mahogany Box
Thomas Malby, London: 1853
Thomas Malby, London: 1853
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The terrestrial globe with engraved hand-colored gores, set within a turned mahogany box (as issued), the domed acorn-form lid lifting off to reveal the globe turning on polar axis pins in the lower cylindrical section. Geographic entities are colored in yellow with thick, boldly colored outlines of yellow, red and green indicating continents and countries. Major regions, cities, and rivers and lakes are labeled. Oceans are colored green. The Antarctic region has a dotted outline surrounding an area labeled "Supposed Antarctic Continent." Alongside the ecliptic is a calendar with the months labeled in English and numbered in increments of 10 days, with corresponding zodiac symbols. The Malby firm associated itself with the geographical publishing of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, which is noted on the cartouche.
The Malby family of globe makers was active in London from the mid 19th century to the turn of the 20th century. For more information about Malby, see our Guide to Globe Makers. Newton & Son, another London globe maker, issued pocket globes in mahogany boxes of the same style in the 1850s and 1860s.
Cartouche: MALBY'S/ Terrestrial Globe,/ Compiled from/ the GLOBES of the/ SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFU'N./ OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE/ 37, Parker Street/ LONDON./ 1853.
Condition: Globe generally very good with the usual overall toning and wear and minor irregularities to varnish surface. Small irregular crack, in Northern Asia, professionally restored, appears stable. Box original, very good with the usual toning and shrinkage; recently professionally repolished. Some chips to inner rim of lower portion of box.
References:
Dekker, Elly, et al. Globes at Greenwich: A Catalogue of the Globes and Armillary Spheres in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. London: Oxford University Press and the National Maritime Museum, 1999. pp. 404-407.