A FINE PAIR OF WILLIAM IV TERRESTRIAL AND CELESTIAL 18 INCH LIBRARY GLOBES
£10,000 - £15,000
A FINE PAIR OF WILLIAM IV TERRESTRIAL AND CELESTIAL 18 INCH LIBRARY GLOBES
BY CHARLES SMITH & SON (FL.1803-62), LONDON, C.1830-40
each comprising of twelve engraved gores with title cartouches inscribed 'Smiths Terrestrial Globe containing the whole of the latest discoveries, geographical improvements, also the tracks of the most celebrated circumnavigaters, London, C.Smith & Son, 172 Strand' and 'Smiths Celestrial Globe containing all the principal stars complete from the works of Wollaston, Flamsted de la Caille, Havelins, Mayer, Bradley, Herschel and Maskelyse, the ...... of the Astronomical Society of London, London, C.Smith & Son, 172 Strand', each globe with a brass engraved meridian within a mahogany ring applied with a paper zodiac and calendar scale, supported by four curved brackets on a turned stem and tripod supports, united by a printed paper compass rose with blued steel needle and glass cover, signed 'Smith & Son, London', on brass castors (2)
115.7cm high
Provenance
The Property of a Gentleman, Galhampton Manor, Somerset.
Catalogue Note
The publishing firm of Charles Smith & Son was founded in 1799. Charles Smith advertised himself as "engraver to the Prince of Wales" and initially started selling maps but competition with the Cary company likely lead to the addition of globes. Charles's son entered the business in 1845 and the range of published globes was extended to include pocket globes and library globes. The firm had a shop at 172 The Strand from 1827 before moving to 63 Charing Cross in 1870.