A fantastic terrestrial globe by W. & A.K. Johnston set in an ebonised stand with four turned legs and cross stretchers. The sphere is surmounted by a small brass hour circle engraved with Roman numerals and is bisected by an engraved calibrated brass meridian ring that moves within the stand’s framework. The stand also includes a circular horizon band with printed paper calendar and zodiac that intersects the globe.
The globe is printed in several colours and comprises of twelve coated lithographic paper gores over a twelve inch gesso covered sphere. The globe is nicely detailed and has a grid network of parallels and meridians. It shows all the continents and countries as they were at the time it was printed and also indicates ocean currants. Also shown is the ecliptic - the yearly path the Sun follows on the celestial sphere.
A cartouche is present that states,"12 inch Globe by W. & A.K. Johnston, Geographers; Engravers and Printers to the Queen, Edinburgh & London". Unusually, the globe also has a date printed; 1883.
The sphere is surmounted by a brass hour circle, within a calibrated full brass meridian and circular horizon band with engraved paper calendar and zodiac.
The globe also has a printed Analemma - a diagram showing the declination of the Sun for every day in the year and the equation of time.The Analemma therefore shows the position of the Sun in the sky as seen from a fixed location on Earth at the same mean solar time, as the sun's position varies over the course of a year.
Dimensions: 30.5 cm/12 inches (Globe diameter) x 44.5 cm/17½ inches (Max. height on stand).
W. & A.K. Johnston was founded by brothers William and Alexander Keith Johnston, who started out as apprentices to the Scottish globe maker and publisher James Kirkwood in his Edinburgh workshop.
