21-inch Celestial Globe, 1799

Twenty one inch celestial globe on wooden pedestial stand by J. & W. Cary, London, dated from 1799.

William Carey (1759-1825) set up his own business about 1790 and became noted for his astronomical and other scientific instruments. He soon turned his attention to the making of terrestrial and celestial globes and the firm of Carey became one of the foremost in this field during the first half of the 19th century.

Stars are included down to the 9th magnitude and there are also nebulae, clusters of nebulae, star clusters and double stars represented. The constellation figures are shown in addition to the boundary lines.

The globe is constructed of 18 gores. It is provided with a brass meridian circle and hour circle. The horizon circle is of wood supported by four quadrant arms which are in turn carried by a pillar rising from a tripod base in which is mounted a compass.