An 8-inch antique globe with a handsome turned mahogany base and stand and a brass half-meridian, showing British possessions of the Empire circa 1912 in red colour.

Charles Smith (c.1768-1854) was an English map publisher engraver and globemaker. He established his firm in 1799 and was later appointed “Mapseller to the Prince of Wales” (and subsequently the King). Charles Smith started out by manufacturing miniature pocket globes and in 1845, after his son joined the family business, they began to produce floor-standing and table top library globes. Smith competed in the globemaking market with the likes of other acclaimed London-based globemakers, Thomas Malby and John Cary.

The family business traded as Charles Smith and Son between 1826 and 1854 upon Charles’ death, and were located at 172 Strand, London. His son William Smith succeeded him and the firm changed their name to Smith & Son and moved to 63 Charing Cross. Eventually in 1916, George Philip & Son bought the firm but continued issuing ‘Smith’ globes into the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

[GLOBE437]