Global Charm – Collecting Vintage Globes and Maps
I have always been interested in the history of things…..especially vintage globes and maps. It started with the Ohio Art World Globe Bank in Sunday school. Every Sunday after I had added my few dimes and nickels to help poor kids in some less fortunate part of the world, I loved to look at the bright colors of the various countries on the small metal globe. In my little kid mind the colors of the countries also seemed to “color” my perception of what it must be like in those places.
Canada and Australia are huge splotches of pink, which usually caught my eye. Even today, I think affectionately of Canada (who doesn’t?) and Australia seems such a friendly place to visit. Oddly enough the Soviet Union was colored a bright sunny yellow, which never quite squared with the menacing, stark images of that country in the media as I was growing up. Another country in yellow that perplexed me was Greenland!
Anyway my love of maps and globes was nurtured at a young age. Travel was something our family managed to do whenever possible. Trips started with planning, which involved time spent looking over maps. I still enjoy looking at maps and globes, old or new it doesn’t matter. They represent possibility, adventure and a glimpse of something familiar yet exotic. If you are interested in collecting globes and maps or are researching what you already have, as I am, see the links below for some good info from top collectors and experts.
Replogle Globes – http://www.replogleglobes.com/aboutGlobes.php
Globe Collector’s Blog http://globecollectors.wordpress.com/
George Glazer Gallery – NYC http://www.georgeglazer.com/globes/globes.html
Murray Hudson – Halls, TN http://www.murrayhudson.com/
The globe pictured above I can’t find info on anywhere – so if anyone out there can help me with it I would appreciate hearing from you. I love the colors and patina. From what I have read it is probably a 1930’s globe. Here’s what I found to use as a general guide for dating vintage globes. Also visit the Replogle Globe Company site – they are one of the main producers of globes in the U.S. and their site has some great information.
Major Political and Geographic Changes for Dating Globes
1845 – Texas becomes a state
1850 – California becomes a state
1867 – Russian Territory becomes Alaska
1873 -Yellowstone National Park appears in NW Wyoming
1889 – North and South Dakota form in the US
1919 – Polish Corridor, Balkan States, Czechoslovakia, etc. formed
1930 – Constantinople changed its name to Istanbul.
1935 – Persia changes name to Iran
1945 – Post WWII – Germany divided into East and West
1947 – India independent. West and East Pakistan formed
1948 – State of Israel formed
1953 – Korea divides into North and South
1954 – Vietnam divided into North and South
1962 – 1965 – Only Egypt called “United Arab Republic”
1971 – East Pakistan becomes “Bangladesh”
1976 – Vietnam is one country
1991 – Soviet Union dissolves into 15 new countries
For my first foray into the world of blogging, I have decided to share my interests in globes and maps. Some of which are vintage and collectible. Some are of unknown origin or value but are just cool to look at which is how I end up with most of the things I collect.
Have you found any good globes or maps? How do you display them?
