Rossi, Giuseppe de, and Jodocus Hondius the elder

An Italian 8.5-inch (21cm) diameter terrestrial globe, made up of 12 engraved gores laid down to the poles, the equatorial and ecliptic colures graduated in degrees, the prime meridian to the west of the Azores, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and Arctic and Antarctic Circles marked, wind directions and loxodromes marked on the oceans, dedication in cartouche "Ill[ustrissi]mo viro optimaru[m]q[ue] artium amatori et Fautori D Paulo Mellino Romano Iosephus de Rubeis Mediolanensis devoti animi monumentum dat dicatquae", further cartouche with Hondius' address to the reader, re-dated by Rossi "1615", some surface restorations, section of the Indian Ocean replaced in skilful facsimile, mounted in a modern brass meridian ring graduated in degrees and with hour-ring and pointer, modern ebonised wooden stand, the horizon ring supported by four turned columns and central pillar support, united by two cross-stretchers with a turned circular base-plate, facsimile paper horizon ring in manuscript, showing days and months, points of the compass, and feast and saints' days

Globes at Greenwich GLB0153; Globi Neerlandici Hon IIIR; Stevenson, Terrestrial and Celestial Globes, II, p.13

"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This globe was based upon the very rare 21cm terrestrial globe of 1601 by Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612). This terrestrial formed half of Hondius’ second pair of globes and only one example of it (NMM, Greenwich) has been "identified unequivocally" (Globi Neerlandici). The 1601 globe was then copied by the early 17th-century Italian globe-maker Giuseppe de Rossi, who retained Hondius' cartography (which was based upon Petrus Plancius’ new method of calculating longitude, cf. Globe Neerlandici pp. 163-165), but replaced the dedication to the naval and military commanders of the United Provinces of the Netherlands with one to Paolo Mellino of Rome, and changed the date from 1601 to 1615 in the cartouche containing the dedication to the reader.