English Table Globe By W. & Ak Johnston 1854

Rare and elegant English table globe by W. & AK Johnston from 1854. It rests on an original blackened wood stand adorned with a brass meridian ring. When the horisontal ring and bears the graduations. All presented on four turned flanged and baluster feet linked by matching turned spacers. A label reads: "Globe terrestre par W. & AK Johnston Limited. Geographers, Engravers and Printers, Edinburgh and London" . British, 1854. Quality work in good condition, some varnish wear.

Note: The Johnston brothers, William (1802-1888) and Alexander Keith (1804-1871), began their apprenticeship with James Kirkwood, Scotland's leading globe maker, until a fire destroyed his workshops in 1824. Setting out on their own, they took over the William Lizars publishing house and began printing maps, atlases, gazetteers, guidebooks, globes and much more. After developing the first 3.65 m (12 ft.) geophysical globe, the Johnstons became leaders in their field throughout Great Britain in the second half of the 19th century, and were appointed Suppliers to the Crown by Queen Victoria. Their exceptionally large 76 cm (30") globe, similar to this example, was the first of its size to be produced in England. It was exhibited at the 1851 World's Fair in London's Hyde Park, where it won numerous medals. Later versions, like this one, were produced for business travelers, showing major sea routes and the location of underwater telegraph cables.