A large 30 inch W. & . A. K. Johnston library globe

A large 30 inch W. & . A. K. Johnston library globe, supported by an unusual pitch pine stand with a brass meridian ring, all on four turned flange and baluster legs joined by matching turned stretchers. with label stating ’30 inch terrestrial globe by W. & A.K. Johnston Limited. Geographers, Engravers and Printers, Edinburgh & London’. British, circa 1900.

Please see Elly Dekker and Peter van der Krogt, ‘Globes from the Western World.’ London, 1993, page 120, plate 36 for a very similar globe, also in a pitch pine stand but with a additional meridian and tropical ring.

Footnote: The Johnston brothers William (1802-1888) and Alexander Keith (1804-1871) began as apprentices to the leading Scottish globe-maker, James Kirkwood, until a fire destroyed his workshops in 1824. Setting out on their own, they acquired the established publishing house of William Lizars and began printing maps, atlases, gazetteers, guide books, globes and much more. Following their development of the first 12′ geo-physical globe the Johnstons became the leaders of their field throughout Great Britain in the second half of the nineteenth century and were awarded a Royal Appointment by Queen Victoria. Their imposing and exceptionally large 30-inch terrestrial globe, similar to this example, was the first of its size to be produced in England. It was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park London, where it won numerous medals. Later versions like this one were produced for business travellers with principal steamship routes and the location of submerged telegraph cables.