Description
Gilman Joslin (1804-c. 1886), one of America’s most prolific globe makers, began making globes for Josiah Loring (1775-c. 1840) in 1837, and took over the business two years later. Loring had begun selling globes in 1832. He advertised that his globes were superior to British globes of the period. Yet early Loring globes were either imported from C. Smith & Sons, one of the leading British globe makers of the late Georgian period, or re-engraved versions of Smith & Sons globes. Gilman Joslin began as a wood turner and maker of looking glass mirrors. After taking over Loring´s business, he began producing globes under the Loring name and under his own name. Joslin set up a globe manufacturing facility in Boston and by 1850 had five workers. Gilman Joslin was joined by his son William B. Joslin in 1874 and the firm continued in operation as Gilman Joslin & Son until 1907.
Joslin & Son’s globe handbook (issued later than the offered Joslin globe) states that their globes were useful for instructing students in geography and “[f]or library or office use [were] no less valuable, showing…at a glance, the true relative situations of Political and Geographical Divisions, Cities, etc., the world over.” The handbook also enumerated various “advantages” of Joslin globes:
“They may be depended upon as accurate, the plates having lately been revised to correspond with all recent political changes. All the maps are printed directly from copper plates, and are not lithographed. The meridians are accurately graduated. The varnish is warranted not to crack or peel off, a common failing. The stands are thoroughly and firmly fitted together, and the general workmanship throughout is of the first order.”
—Joslin’s Hand-Book, pp. 3-4
Oval cartouche: LORING’S/ CELESTIAL GLOBE/ Containing all the known Stars Nebulae & c/ Compiled from the Works of/ WOLLASTON, FLAMSTED [sic.], DE LA CAILLE,/ HAVELIUS, MAYER,/ BRADLEY, HERSCHEL, MASKELYNE/ The Transactions of the/ ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY of LONDON/ &c. &c./ (From Smith’s New English Globe.)/ Boston. Josiah Loring, 136 Washington St., 1854.
Beneath cartouche: Annin & Smith sc. NB. Greek Letters or Figures pre fixed to Stars refer to the British Catalogue, a Stroke under the Figures thus __ to De la Caille, H. Havelius, M. Mayer, CH. Herschel, B. Bradley & c.
Condition: Generally very good, recently professionally restored and revarnished, with the usual remaining expected light toning, wear and restorations to minor scattered cracks and abrasions. Overall retains a golden antique tone with bright colors. Stand generally very good with the usual wear.
