A rare late 19th-centurypromotional desk item , this wooden map turner was produced by the Eastern Telegraph Company and its subsidiary, the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company , both based in London. The object, a hybrid of technical tool and advertising medium, features a map of submarine cable routes around the world, showing the regions served by the company. Each turner is dated on the handle (1893 or 1897) and includes a complete annual calendar engraved in gold. These map turners were used to hold large nautical or military charts open on the desks of engineers or administrators. A valuable rarity for enthusiasts of early telecommunications, cartography, and British colonial artifacts. Price per unit.
✦ Origin: England (London) ✦ Estimated period: 1893 or 1897 ✦ Dimensions: 33 × 3 cm ✦ Material: Stained and varnished wood ✦ Condition: Very good overall condition, authentic patina, minor localized losses
An iconic object in the history of maritime communications and advertising – ideal for a cabinet of curiosities, map collection or collection of vintage advertisements.
