This pocket globe consists of a terrestrial sphere contained within a spherical case. The sphere is made of papier mache and plaster and has a metal pivot at both poles. There are twelve paper gores that are copper-engraved and hand-coloured. The globe bears the inscription "CARY'S Pocket GLOBE; agreeable to the latest DISCOVERIES" and indicates that it was made in London and published by J. & W. Cary at the Strand, 1 April 1791.

The globe's graduated prime meridian is labelled "Meridian of Greenwich" and it has graduated equator and ecliptic. Geographical details include markings for the location of the 'Antipodes of London'. In America there are labels for 'NEW ALBION' and 'UNITED STATES' and Mackenzie's explorations in Canada (1789) are recorded. The south coast of Australia is dotted and Tasmania is peninsular. Cook's three voyages are extensively documented and his death is recorded: 'Owyhee where Cook was killed 1779'. The track of Constantine Phipps's voyage to the north, with young Horatio Nelson on board, though of course not mentioned, is labelled 'Phipps 1773'. A total of eight oceans are named.

The interior of the case shows, in one half of hemisphere, an image of the world depicted as it was known in antiquity, described as "The WORLD as it was known in CAESAR'S Time agreeable to D'Anville". In the other hemisphere, there is 'A TABLE / OF / Latitudes & Longitudes / of Places not given / on this / GLOBE'. In showing the world in antiquity, Cary here departed from the usual pocket globe convention of including a celestial sphere on the inside of the case.