Fascinating 3 inch school globe from American maker, Charles Holbrook, will keep your attention for hours. The globe is hinged and opens to reveal a flat set of maps inside the orb! The aim of the globe was two fold; 1) make affordable globes that every student could afford and 2) help teach students the relationship between globes and flat maps. The cartography has been distilled down to only the most pertinent details to ensure legibility at this small scale. Despite having only a few countries and cities labeled, we know that these globes were produced during the 1850's in Wethersfield, Connecticut. The company moved to Ohio in the 1860's. This particular model probably dates to around 1858. About the Maker: Josiah Holbrook believed a globe was more effective if every student was able to hold one in their hand and therefore focused on manufacturing inexpensive models. The business struggled. In 1854 his son Dwight Holbrook contracted the globe manufacturing out to a Connecticut State Prison, where inmates produced Globes. In 1855 Dwight founded the Holbrook School Apparatus Co, with the focus remaining on inexpensive models. Success was achieved as the Ohio School system purchased over 11000 Globes the first year. Within 2 years the Holbrook Family opened a retail store in Chicago, offering school supply but only until sometime in the 1860s, when Charles W. Holbrook (son of Dwight) changed the direction to focus on Globe manufacture only. Description: The 3 inch diameter orb consists of 12 individual, hand applied paper gores over a solid wood orb that is divided and hinged. The inside of the globe features hemispheric maps of the continents as well. Delicately engraved map details include latitude and longitude grids, continents, and a few countries and cities. Continents are outlined in various colors. All text is in English. The globe does not feature a base or a meridian. The cartouche in the Pacific Ocean reads: HOLBROOKS - Apparatus Mfg Co. - Wethersfield, CT. Condition: Details in the map are crisp and the colors rich except despite minor overall wear to the outer gores. The interior maps have been professionally restored in the UK. A few sections of map had to be replaced that were either missing or damaged by tape. One small section of tape could not be removed without causing undue damage. The exterior gores were cleaned and given a protective coat. Please see the photos for a better look at the condition. Additional photos available upon request. Globe will ship from Europe for $19.00 to most countries. SOLD $1,895 - Item # 0317HOLB58