Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-28
FIRST TERRESTRIAL GLOBE
A Fac Smile of It Now at the National
Museum.
1t Was Made From the Original, New
I'm NuremburR-Its Historic
Value Great.

One Of the most interesting Of the edu-
cational exhibits at the worlds fair was
fac smile of the first terrestrial globe,
made by Martin Benhaim in the historic
year 1892. This was contributed to the
historical collection IN the Convent la Ra-
bida by the National Museum in this city.
to which it was only few days ago re-
turned and where II has again been REIN
stalled
This reproduction of the most valuable
relic of ancient geographical conception
was made for the museum at a great ex-
pense by E. de Grandpre of Paris in
strict fac simile of the original, which is
still in Nuremburg, where IT was made by
Martin Benhaim. while on a visit 10 that
city between the years 1891 and l493. The
descendants Of Benhaim have been on sew
eral occasions offered a handsome sum for
the relic, but all offers have been refused,
and even the loan of 1t eouId not be OBJ
tanned.
1t is the earliest globe known to geogra-
piers, and considering the close relationship
which 1t bears to the discovery of America.
Its value to the scientists of this country
alone Is twofold. 1t measures about twenty
one inches In diameter and is made of
pasteooard, covered with parchment, on
which are designed nistoNc pictures with
their legends written in old German 1t is
valuable for its illustration of the dispro-
portions of the geographical computations
OF Claudius Ptolemy. the great Helleno-
Egyptian explorer of the second century
A. D., who was the first to prove the world
globe, and who compiled the first 'uni-
versal geography" which continued to be
the standard text book used by explorers
until the sixteenth century. Ptolemy is also
said to have been the originator of the
terms latitude" and longitude"
The information of Marco Polo the Ven-
ala H.
200 years before Columbus, and that of
Sir John Vaudeville, who made extep siye
travels in the east 100 years later. II is
said, has also been brought TO bear uron
the computations OF proportions, which
made this the most complete chart of its
time.
The ridiculous forms given to the great
divisions of the eastern continent not TO
mentlon the smaller Islanis, make this
conception ludicrous to the modern eve
and the many fantastic representations of
supposed sea-monsters, which adorn the
space of the ocean, indicate the supersti-
lions OF the fearful navigators of that day.
Inc whole OF the western continent is OF
course omitted. and Columbus idea Of the
location OF India. at the western extrem-
ity OF the Atlantic. is wildly shown.
Inc nrst meridian, which today is locat-
ed In Washington. or Greenwich, by Ameri-
can sailors, is shown, in this globe to mass
through the Island of MADEIRA. about one
degree east of the Island of Zero, where
the even more ancient navigators began to
reckon, believing that to be the western
most edge of the earth
Or. Thomas Wilson, curator Of the Sec
ton OF Prehistoric Anthropology, in the
Smithsonian Institution, was the member
OF the board Of judges Of the anthropolog-
ical department of the Columbian exposi-
ton who awarded this exhibit a medal In
connection with this award Mr. Wilson
says: "As a monument of geography n Is
OF the highest Importance, being the only
document that has come down 70 ne a.
this form, embodying the geographical ideas
or Its author and those of his gifted con-
temporaries, Toscanelli, Columbus. and 9TH
ers" ~ ~
This fac smile is said to be an exact re-
production of the original, in all details OF
color and scale. 1t is now to be seen in the
north hall of the National Museum al the
end nearest the rotunda