This 1875 artifact is a true testament to the lost art of map making skills. Continents, Empires, rivers, mountains, currents and other details are ever so delicately engraved, printed and hand colored. Achievement of Human advancement in 18th and 19th century exploration and technology are well documented, including the sea routes and dates of Captain James Cook, Vancouver, Perouse (1785) and more. The recently completed Suez Canal, the achievement of a century in human advancement, is clearly identified (1869).Wilkes discovery march of Antarctica is also noted. Australia is marked also former New Holland and noted with a population of 250,000, as Van Diemen land is also identified in its new name, Tasmania. In Europe the invasion of the Turkish Empire is visible as all up to the newly established Austro Hungarian Empire (1868) has been blanketed by the Ottomans. Greece is shown as the newest independent nation (1875), yet the newly created German Empire (1871) still shows its individual Kingdoms, including Prussia and Frankton. This refined globe still identifies blank areas of the world, waiting to be conquered by man. Regions in Africa and Antarctica have yet to be discovered. An exceptional masterpiece, sharing the history of the human quest to explore and conquer. Lake Albert in Africa is identified as a massive body of water as no one has yet to realize it is in fact two bodies of water, the second to be named Lake Edward in years to come. South America is still awaiting to be formed, with a Confederate Argentine present. A very young United States has just recently obtained Alaska as a territory of its own (1868). Only one Dacotah is shown as it will still be a few years until divided into a Northern and Southern State. On a rather humorous note, El Paso is identified to be on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, not the US. An exceptional piece of history, sharing the world of the past when Empires rose and fell, new nations born out of Kingdoms, just to be conquered again. Virgin lands in jungles and desert are being discovered by explorers, sharing observations of unknown flora, fauna and cultures. An era long gone, yet well preserved on this Nims terrestrial globe. An exquisite piece of history for the discerning collector. Active from the 1850s -90s, Franklin Globes may have been produced among a variety of publishers but all including this HB Nims piece remained true to its superb and ever so delicate refined maps. No wonder this is one of the most desirable spheres among globe and map aficionados. The 12inch diameter plaster orb is covered by twelve, hand applied paper gores representing the ever so detailed map. Hand colored details in various colors highlight nations and empires. Mounted into a full brass meridian, the orb sits in a beautiful cast metal mount with 3 elegant and ornately decorated Victorian styled legs. The full horizon ring has maintained most of its elegantly printed paper. Overall the sphere is exceptionally well preserved. Details are crisp, colors rich and warm. A well done, old repair is visible near Afghanistan. The base is also exceptionally well preserved, with one flaw of some missing paper and soiling (please see photos). More photos are available. This fine artifact will ship well packed in two boxes. Domestic shipping is $52.00, international $112.00. $1,925 - Item #: 713NIMS75 - Sold