Terrestrial table globe - Rare Pre-War Chad Valley No

Rare pre-war Chad Valley No. 10152 lithographed tin World Time Globe, made in Harborne, England, circa 1938–1939. An exceptionally attractive and remarkably well-preserved example of British pre-war educational design, manufactured by the celebrated Chad Valley Co. Ltd. of Harborne, England. The globe is constructed from two pressed and colour-lithographed metal hemispheres joined along the Equator and mounted within its original brass-coloured graduated metal meridian. The ensemble rests on an elegant glossy black circular base. Particularly important is the original Royal Warrant printed on the support beneath the British Royal Coat of Arms: “By Appointment – Toy Makers to H.M. The Queen – The Chad Valley Co. Ltd – Harborne England” followed by: “No. 10152 – Made in England.” The combination of this Royal Warrant wording and the historical cartography places this fascinating example in the late 1930s, circa 1938–1939, immediately before the Second World War. The globe preserves a fascinating snapshot of the political geography of the period. Numerous historical and colonial names can still be seen, including Northern Rhodesia, Bechuanaland, South West Africa, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Belgian Congo, French West Africa, Trans-Jordan and Abyssinia, among many others. These obsolete geographical designations make the globe particularly interesting not only as a decorative object, but also as a genuine document of the geopolitical world immediately before WWII. Ingenious World Time / Clock Setting function This is considerably more than a conventional miniature globe. The graduated meridian incorporates Chad Valley's ingenious Clock Setting system. The original instructions remain exceptionally well preserved underneath the base: “CLOCK SETTING – Set the hour graduation on the Greenwich line of longitude. The time at any particular place can then be read at the point where its longitude line meets the clock.” This allowed the owner to use longitude to determine the approximate corresponding time in different parts of the world – a charming combination of geography, education and mechanical ingenuity characteristic of high-quality British educational toys of the period. Condition The globe survives in exceptionally attractive original condition considering its age of approximately 85 years. The lithographed surface retains remarkably fresh period colours and excellent legibility. The black circular base remains beautifully glossy, while the brass-coloured meridian and support preserve their attractive original finish. The manufacturer's markings, Royal Warrant, model number and the complete Clock Setting instructions underneath the base are all clearly preserved. Only minor traces of age and use are present, entirely consistent with an authentic pre-war object. Please study the detailed photographs, which form an integral part of the condition description. Dimensions: Total height: approx. 21 cm Globe diameter: approx. 13–14 cm Base diameter: approx. 11.5 cm Manufacturer: The Chad Valley Co. Ltd., Harborne, England Model / No.: 10152 Period: circa 1938–1939 Material: lithographed pressed metal / tinplate, metal support and base Country of manufacture: England A particularly charming and increasingly difficult-to-find pre-WWII British miniature globe, combining historical cartography, the Chad Valley Royal Warrant and an ingenious World Time function. An excellent collector's piece for enthusiasts of antique globes, historical cartography, British toys, educational instruments and pre-war design.

Estimate:£126.92

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