Newton’s New Terrestrial and Celestial Globes.

NEWTON, John and William; Miles Berry.

Item Number: 124608

London: Newton, Son & Berry, c. 1830-1836.

Fine pair of rare early 19th century celestial and terrestrial table globes published by Newton, Son & Berry. Both the celestial and terrestrial globe measure 12 inches in diameter with a calibrated brass meridian ring and 19 inch mahogany horizon ring decorated with mounted hand colored decorations. Mounted on ebonized oak stands. Each globe is comprised of 12 richly detailed hand-colored gores with polar calottes, the terrestrial globe detailing the earth’s landmasses, major countries and cities and the celestial showing the major stars in various sizes related to their brightness, displayed with a table of magnitudes. Major constellations and all twelve zodiac signs are illustrated with detailed hand-colored drawings. The cartouche on the celestial globe is inscribed, “Newton’s New & Improved Celestial Globe On which all the Stars, Nebulae & Clusters contained in the extensive Catalogue of the late E. Wollaston E.R.S. are accurately laid down their Right Ascensions and Declinations having been recalculated for the Year 1830 by W. Newton. Manufactured by Newton, Son & Berry Chancery Lane London Published 1836.” In near fine condition with some light restoration. Each globe measures 19 inches tall.

The sphericity of the Earth was established by Greek astronomers in the 3rd century BC, with the earliest terrestrial globe appearing during that period. The earliest known globe was constructed by Crates of Mallus in Cilicia (now Çukurova in modern-day Turkey) in the mid-2nd century B.C.E. Now known as the Erdapfel, the earliest extant terrestrial globe was produced in 1492 by German mapmaker, navigator, and merchant Martin Behaim in Nuremberg, Germany. Traditionally, globes were manufactured by gluing a printed paper map onto a sphere, often made from wood.