Woodward's Terrestrial Globe

7.6 cm terrestrial globe, 12 hand coloured copperplate engraved gores printed circa 1850, London, turned presentation box of reclaimed Lignum Vitae

We are pleased to offer this exceptional hand made miniature globe made with the original 19th century copperplate engraved gores issued by the London based instrument builder George Woodward (fl. mid 19th century).  An example (GLBO265) of the gore sheet for this globe is held in the collection of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich as is the original copperplate for a larger (13 cm) globe also issued by Woodward around the same time (circa 1850 according to the Museum).  A noted builder of barometers and thermometers, Woodward kept a shop at 5 Charles Street in Hatton Garden until at least 1855 but the survival of several of his gore sheets that were never made into globes suggests his venture into the globe business was not entirely successful despite his obvious mastery as an engraver.  Here his original copperplate engraved gores have been expertly hand mounted onto a handmade plaster sphere which is presented in a truly bespoke turned presentation box made from antique Lignum Vitae, reclaimed from antique English bowling balls no less.  Thought of as a fine "gentleman's accessory" in its day, this elegant globe is a testament to the engraver's art and will make a significant addition to any serious collection of globes and planetaria.

The globe can be rotated within the presentation case or simply removed for closer examination.  Note that both the equator and ecliptic are graduated and numbered by degrees and divisions.  The equator is presented with East/West scales of 0º to 180º with 1º dotted divisions and 10º numbered notations while the ecliptic is presented with 12 0º to 30º scales with 5º divisions.  Meridians are presented every 15º with parallels every 10º.  The vernal equinox is at W 120º while the prime meridian is, as one would expect for a British globe of the period, set through Greenwich:

Note rich grain, natural seams and handsome finish of Lignum Vitae presentation box:  

To get a sense of the fine detail present in the engraving work consider that the distance from "P.S. Francis" (soon to be known as San Francisco) to Philadelphia as seen in the enlarged photo below measures just ~ 2 cm actual size!

North polar view - note precise alignment of gores, notations of Melville and Parry, Alaska shown of course as "Russian Territory" as "Seward's Folly" was some two decades in the future when this plate was engraved:

Note Hokkaido still shown as "Jesso" and linear markings for Great Wall of China:

Globe exhibits a rich patina yet text is crisp and legible despite the miniature format.  Note latitude scale at W 30º with 1º divisions numbered at 10º intervals: