A rare, fine and particularly charming pair of 12 " J & W Cary globes on turned mahogany stands terminating in elegant cabriole legs with pad feet united by stretchers incorporating compasses.

The hand coloured terrestrial globe mounted within a brass meridian and with a cartouche printed:

CARY'S NEW TERRESTRIAL GLOBE DELINEATED From the best Authorities extant; Exhibiting the different Tracks of CAPTAIN COOK and the New Discoveries made by him and other circumnavigators. Made and sold by J & W CARY Strand Septr.2d 1816 LONDON'.

The hand colourd celestial globe within a brass meridian, and with a cartouche printed:

'CARY'S NEW CELESTIAL GLOBE ON WHICH are correctly laid down upwards of 3500 Stars Selected from the most accurate observations and calculated for the Year 1800. With the extent of each Constellation precisely defined By Mr Gilpin of the ROYAL SOCIETY Made and sold by J & W Cary Strand London Jan 1816.

John & William Cary

 John Cary served his apprenticeship as an engraver in London, before setting up his own successful business at 181 in Strand in 1783. He often worked in partnership with his brother William Cary a scientific instrument maker, and they both soon gained a reputation for creating detailed and precise maps and globes of the highest quality.

John Carys atlas, The New and Correct English Atlas published in 1787, became a standard reference work in England.
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In 1794 Cary was commissioned by the Postmaster General to survey England's roads. This resulted in Cary's New Itinerary (1798), a map of all the major roads in England and Wales. He also produced Ordnance Survey maps prior to 1805.
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Globes were considered a status symbol, showing off the owner’s sophistication and intellect and New discoveries at this time, such as Captain Cook’s discovery of Australia, reignited the interest in cartography, exploration and the stars.