The Kapp globe is a poor quality copy of an object first made in Germany, as were many of the toys sold in English toyshops in the 19th century. It bears no date, but examination of the cartography suggests that it was made in the mid-1870s. The 'Ch. Kapp' named in the inscription is unknown, but the name may have been falsely inscribed so as to link the object to the Kapp family, who were established German mapmakers. The mention of Nuremberg also tied the globe to the respected tradition of toy making based in that city. Europe is represented favourably on the globe as a centre of learning and culture - note the books, telescopes and artist's palette on the image above, as well as the ship and the beehive, symbolising trade and industry. This suggests that the intended audience was European, and Great Britain in particular is shown to be larger than it should be on the outer surface of the globe.
Parallels with textbooks
Themes from contemporary English textbooks are reflected in the Kapp globe. The text on the horizontal layers of the globe includes the same kinds of facts that children read in books, such as the dimensions of the continents. Additionally, images reinforce information about the indigenous peoples of foreign lands, presenting attitudes that often differ greatly from modern ways of thinking. Contemporary authors asserted that laziness was constantly found in the warmer climates and also discussed the injustices of the Indian caste system. These themes are present in the globe's image of Asia, above, which shows a servant and his master in command, reclining on an elephant.