Cary's Pair Of Globes

John and William Cary, Celestial Globe, 1816

John and George Cary, Terrestrial Globe, 1826

Wood, printed paper.

cm. 46 x 41 x 41

The two globes, respectively terrestrial and celestial, are an exquisite example of English manufacture of the early 19th century. Both objects are signed with a cartouche inserted in the center of the respective maps.

In the case of the celestial globe, it reads as follows: “Cary’s new celestial globe, whereon are affixed 3500 stars, Selected from the most accurate observations and calculated in the year 1800. The extent of each constellation has been accurately illustrated by Mr. Gilpin of the Royal Society. Made and sold by J & W Cary, Strand, London, Jan. 11, 1816”.

The globe is later, as the inscription shows: “Cary’s New Globe of the North Pole, From the best Authority in existence, Presenting: The most recent Discoveries towards the North Pole and all the Improvements of Geography of the present day. London: Made and sold by G & J Cary, St. James Street, Jan. 4 1826.”

The two globes are in fact the work of the Cary firm, founded in the late 18th century by John Cary (1754-1835), a well-known map seller, and his younger brother William (1759-1825), an optician and maker of nautical instruments.

John was apprenticed to the craftsman William Palmer in 1778 and then entered trade, selling maps and engravings from about 1782 in a shop-workshop in Johnson’s Court, Fleet Street, London; later he moved to premises on the corner of Arundel Street, Strand.

The firm made its first globes in January 1791, advertising them in the Travellers Companion, where it was claimed that they made terrestrial and celestial globes in sizes of 3, 9, 12 and 21 inches (approximately 8, 23, 30 and 53 centimetres respectively).

After moving to 181 Strand in 1791, John and William Cary had established themselves as the leading globe makers in London alongside two other well-known family firms, Newton and Bardin.

John Cary’s two sons, John (1788-1859) and George (1791-1852), continued the family business with the same success as their founders, continuing to produce globes of the highest quality until the mid-19th century. They introduced an 18 inch (46 cm) diameter size to their range in 1820.

After the death of John Cary senior in 1835, the business was taken over by Henry Gould, although the firm retained the Cary name until 1890. In 1892, the postal directory lists a Cary & Co. at 7 Pall Mall and subsequently Cary, Porter & Co. at the same premises from 1894 to 1904.

Further examples of objects made by this firm are illustrated in the volume “Globes from the Western World” edited by Elly Dekker and P. van der Krogt, 1993, plates 33, 37 and 38.