This table globe from the British company Philips has proved difficult to date because of inconsistencies in names and borders, but the following reasoning points to a date of 1924: Tannu Tuva is not shown (1921-26), Trans-Jordan is not shown (from 1921), Ireland is not shown as independent (from 1922), the Soviet Union is not shown (from 1922), Constantinople is not yet Istanbul (from 1923), but Petrograd is shown with Leningrad in brackets - the name changed in 1924.
The Antarctic region is particularly interesting, with areas of land named by polar explorers for various European rulers. These include King Edward VII Land (Robert F Scott, 1901-1904 expedition), Kaiser Wilhelm II Land (Erich von Drygalski, 1901-1903 expedition), Prince Regent Luitpold Land (Bavaria -Wilhelm Filchner, 1911-1912 expedition) and King George V Land (Douglas Mawson, 1911-14 expedition).
The globe is constructed from a pasteboard sphere with 12 hand-applied paper gores and 2 polar calottes. It is mounted on a lacquered brass, graduated half meridian with brass polar cups and finials. The base is of solid turned mahogany with an ebonised finish.
The map colours have softened with age, the varnish has darkened and shows slight craquelure and there are areas of wear and staining but no loss. The lacquered brassware also shows age related patination. There is also some loss of black to the pedestal (pictured).
The map has been carefully cleaned but otherwise left completely original apart from reinforcement at the polar bearings (concealed by the polar cups). The base and meridian have also been cleaned as appropriate.