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Globe, American, Joslin, Terrestrial World, 10-Inch Table Globe, Pedestal Ebonized Stand, Antique, Boston, c. 1890s

$3,600

Gilman Joslin
10-Inch Terrestrial Table Globe
Boston: c. 1890s
Wooden ebonized stand
16.25 inches high, 8.75 inches diameter base
$3,600

The terrestrial globe is inclined at 23.5 degrees in a stationary calibrated half meridian and raised on a turned wooden ebonized stand with central baluster standard and dish base.

The oceans are cream-colored, the geographical entities green, light blue, pink and yellow, some with red outline. Coastlines are shaded with hatch marks. There is a figure-eight analemma. Dakota is divided, dating the globe to after 1889 statehood. Oklahoma is shown in current form. An irregular zone in Eastern Oklahoma is shaded blue and the remaining western portion extending thru the Oklahoma panhandle is shaded pink. Although neither section is labeled, the western section likely represents Oklahoma Territory (with the panhandle remaining as a neutral strip) as formed by the Organic Act of 1890, as distinguished from the eastern section which remained as Indian Territory after that act. This is an indication that the globe dates to 1890 or later. Antarctica is not shown, but a point near South Pole is labeled “Capt. Weddell R.N. reached this point 1823.” The Great Wall of China is indicated by a solid line. Physical geography relating to temperate zones is indicated by lines showing the northern and southern “Limit of Wood,” “Limit of Grain,” “Limit of the Vine,” and “Limit of Bananas.” A north polar calotte is printed with an hour ring.

Product description continues below.

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 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

Trapezoidal Cartouche: JOSLIN’S/ TEN INCH/ TERRESTRIAL/ GLOBE./ Manufactured by/ GILMAN JOSLIN. BOSTON.

Condition: Generally very good with the usual light over toning, wear to surface, soiling, etc. Light overall flecking. No significant cracks, damages, or repairs. Overall bright, readable, colorful, and attractive.

References:

Dekker, Elly and van der Krogt, Peter. Globes from the Western World. London: Zwemmer, 1993.  pp. 126, 140, 176.

How to Use a Globe, Joslin’s Terrestrial and Celestial Globes/ Joslin’s Hand-book to the Terrestrial and Celestial Globes.  Gilman Joslin & Son, Manufacturers and Dealers, 5 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts:  [n.d., but c. 1890], pp. 3-4.

Warner, Deborah Jean. “The Geography of Heaven and Earth,” Rittenhouse Journal of the American Scientific Instrument Enterprise, Vol. 2, No. 3. 1987. pp. 100-103.

Yonge, Ena L. A Catalogue of Early Globes, Library Series No. 6. American Geographical Society: 1968. pp. 37-38.

Additional information

Maker Location

Maker

Globe Type

Terrestrial

Material

Hardwood, Wood