Description
An identical globe, in a mahogany box (no stand or meridian), is in the collection of the National Maritime Museum in Britain and pictured in Dekker, Globes at Greenwich. According to that entry, the date is after 1833.
Newton & Son was operated from 1841 to 1883 by descendants of the British globe maker John Newton, who started making globes in the late 18th Century. For more information about the Newton family of globe makers, see our Guide to Globe Makers.
The heyday of the pocket globe was Georgian period England, from the early 18th century to about 1840, where they were mainly made as novelty items for English aristocrats interested in geography and astronomy. Read more about the history and development of pocket globes.
Terrestrial cartouche: NEWTON’s/ New & Improved/ TERRESTRIAL/ GLOBE/ Published by Newton & Son/ 66 Chancery Lane,/ LONDON.
Condition: Generally very good, recently professionally restored and revarnished, including restorations to minor abrasions, now with the overall light toning and wear. Stand very good with light overall wear and shrinkage.
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. 55, 422-423, 425-427.
“James Cook.” Wikipedia. 4 July 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cook#Third_voyage_.281776.E2.80.9379.29_and_death (7 July 2011).
