Abstract
The authors examined Max Kohl’s terrestrial globe, which is one of the globes kept in Fukuyama-Seishikan Alumni Association, Okayama Pref. The scale of the terrestrial globe is 42Wx42Dx71H in centimeter, and the diameter of the globe is 30.9cm. It has brass (?) meridian ring and wooden (metal plate pasted upper part) horizontal ring supported by 4 brass (?) forks, wooden pedestal column with 3 legs. The sphere is covered by 12 gores and 2 polar caps. Meridian and parallel lines are depicted every 10 degrees. Prime-meridian of this globe seems to be drawn in 32 or 33 degrees w.lon. Mountain ranges are depicted by hachure lines, and Hoang-ho (Yellow R) distributaries into both seas, Bo-hai and Yellow Sea.
This globe was produced in a period during from 1898 to 1908 according to our examination of the geographical information such as place names and boundaries in Africa, Central and South America, Eastern Asia on the globe. Though it is said to be a gift from Abe Family, this was not used in the clan school ‘Seishikan’ established by the Fukuyama Seignior. Because of its abolition in 1872, it was bought as teaching material of geography at teachers college or secondary school of higher education, in later years.
This cartouche consists of the character string with two methods of printing; one was printed using conventional plate, and the other was printed with hollow letters in black frame using a reverse plate. This printing manner is extraordinary for the cartouche. Therefore, it is understood that the name of the original globe maker was overlaid by the name of Max Kohl. Here, the following question arises. Who exchanged the name to Max Kohl in why, when and where? Max Kohl originally, was a manufacturing and sales company (or dealer) of scientific instruments of school teaching materials, though they sold some small tellurium, lunarium and Armillary spheres as shown in the catalogue with price list. Therefore, it is possible to two assumptions. 1) The company was compelled to produce globes immediately after acquiring of a globe-maker in Berlin, and they had no time for gores’ plate remaking after rename. 2) Or, it is simply considered that was the result of sales strategy.
There is another question, however. Did a Japanese dealer replace the name by Max Kohl that was the famous world-wide company at that time? This must be clarified by the chemical analysis of printing ink of the cartouche. Since the examination of the original globe maker has been carried out by Ms. Wohlschläger, this problem will be resolved in the near future. (Responsibility for the wording and content of this paper: Y. Utsunomiya)
