Opening the sale, we have a very fine pair of Regency twenty-one inch terrestrial and celestial floor standing globes, Lot 1. These stunning globes were made by J. & W. Cary, London, the celestial globe is dated 1799, and the terrestrial globe dated 1815/1823. The terrestrial globe is inscribed with ‘tracks and discoveries’ made by British explorer, navigator and captain of the British Royal Navy, Captain James Cook, (1728-1779), other tracks and discoveries shown include those by Captain Vancouver (1757-1798), on the North West coast of America, and M. De La Perouse, on the coast of Tartary.

Lot 1’s celestial globe has a conforming roundel, inscribed ‘Cary’s, New and Improved, Celestial Globe’ on which is carefully laid down the whole of the stars and the nebulæ. The constellations are depicted by mythical beasts, figures and scientific instruments, with dotted boundaries. The stars are shown to nine orders of magnitude with doubles, clusters and nebulæ and labelled with Greek and Roman characters and Arabic numerals denoting their source.⁠

Featured here, Lot 10, is a twelve-inch terrestrial library table globe from the William IV period, made by J. Addison and company, London, Circa 1835. The circular panel is inscribed, ‘J. Addison’s, New & Improved, Terrestrial Globe, Containing all the latest discoveries and geographical improvements, also the tracks of the most celebrated, circum navigators, carefully delineated by, J. Addison & Co, globe makers by appointment, to his Majesty, George IV.’

Amongst the selection, Lot 5, includes a Regency twelve-inch celestial library table globe by J. & W. Cary, London, circa 1816. The sphere applied with two sets of twelve hand-coloured engraved split half-gores incorporating rectangular panel inscribed ‘Cary’s, New Celestial Globe’, on which, are correctly laid down upwards of 3500 stars. Selected from the most accurate observations, and calculated for the Year 1800, with the extent of each Constellation precisely defined, By Mr. Gilpin of the Royal Society.

The celebrated Cary family business of scientific instrument and globe makers was established by John Cary at Johnson’s Court, Fleet Street, London in 1782 moving to a new address at ‘Corner of Arundel Square’, Strand the following year. He was primarily an engraver of maps, charts and globes who moved again in 1783 to 188 Strand. By 1791 he had entered into what appeared to be a relatively casual partnership with his brother, William; this partnership lasted until circa 1816 by which time William and John Cary had moved again to 181 Strand before finally settling in 86 St. James in 1820. The following year he was succeeded by his sons, John (II) and George Cary, who continued from the firm’s 181 Strand address until 1851/2 when the business was acquired by Henry Gould.

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Auction Details

Tuesday 7 March | 10.30am GMT

Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2JE

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Viewing in Newbury:

• Friday 3 March: 10am-4pm
• Sunday 5 March: 10am-3pm
• Monday 6 March: 10am-4pm
• Tuesday 7 March: from 8.30am