A Pair of George I Nine-Inch Terrestrial and Celestial Table Globes by John Senex, circa 1715

Formerly in the collection of Edward Holyoke, 9th President of Harvard College (now University), Cambridge, Massachusetts (1689-1769);

According to paper label, gifted to J. H. Ward in 1820.

Born in Shropshire, John Senex (1678–1740) was one of the most important cartographers in Europe during the early 1700s, instrumental in establishing London as one of the world's leading centres of map and globe production in the eighteenth century. Based in Fleet Street, he served as geographer to Queen Anne and was celebrated not only for his maps, atlases and library globes available in sizes ranging from three to twenty-eight inches, but also celestial charts drafted in collaboration with astronomers including Sir Edmund Halley. He was elected to the Royal Society in 1728. Globes by Senex do not appear frequently on the market, and related auction examples include Sotheby's London 31 October 2018, lot 375, and 15 June 2004 lot 61; also Christie’s London, 24 November 1999, lot 85. 

The eighteenth-century purchaser of these globes was Edward Holyoke (1689-1769), an American scholar who served as the ninth President of Harvard College. Born and raised in Massachusetts, he graduated from Harvard with high honours in 1705 and, after pursuing further theological studies, was appointed President in 1737. His tenure saw the university modernise and liberalise in several ways, including the introduction of more contemporary texts to the curriculum, the creation of the first American laboratory for experimental physics, and the introduction of subject specialisation for tutors in 1767. Holyoke was also the acquirer of the distinctive sixteenth-century turners' chair now known as the President’s Chair or Holyoke Chair, which features in his portrait by John Singleton Copley (Harvard Art Museums) and still symbolises Harvard’s presidency today. His presidency was the second-longest in the history of the university, and was also the oldest President to hold office.