By Patricia Faulhaber Prior to 2000 most classrooms featured a world globe. Today, as classrooms become more digital the globe is becoming obsolete. Globes have a long history which makes collecting antique and vintage globes a joy for those who love world history and geography. According to Omniterrum.com Vintage and Handmade Globes, “Globes are the most ancient scientific instruments known. Their history extends more than a thousand years and still today globes are being produced in large numbers.” “The first known globe, a revolving sphere, was made by Crates of Mallus circa second century B.C.,” the site reported. The oldest known western terrestrial globe that is still in existence today was made in 1492 by Martin Behaim of Nuremberg, Germany and is in the Germanic Museum of Nuremberg. There are several different types of globes illustrating either political boundaries or physical features of the earth. Metskers.com says there are world globes that come in the form of floor globes, desktop globes, illuminated globes, mini globes and inflatable globes. Metskers also mentions that some world globes use a molded, raised relief 3D surface to represent mountains and valleys. The history and geography aspects of globe collecting are some of the main factors that attract collector Kyle Lambalzer of New York. He’s been collecting globes since 2005 and currently has 30 globes in his collection. He also collects the ephemeral items associated with American made globes such as manuals and catalogs. “I’ve always liked maps in general, even as a child I was drawn to maps and I loved studying every map I saw,” Lambalzer said. “Every globe collector is also a map collector but not every map collector is a globe collector. “Collecting globes came about for me by accident. I was shopping at a regional antiques mall and came across a large floor globe. I realized it was from the 1930s and was in pristine condition. I looked at the price and knew I was not leaving without that globe.” He still owns that globe today which is a 16-inch Cram’s floor globe from around 1938. One of his favorite globes is an 1870s AH Andrews 8-inch globe. His most valuable globe is another AH Andrews 12-inch globe produced around 1880. “The 1870s AH Andrews globe’s stand is a big chunk of walnut and it’s surrounded by a brass elliptical ring. It’s art and science in equal measure. The 1880 AH Andrews is a rare globe. I’ve only ever seen one other one up for sale in a decade and it’s also in exceptional shape,” Lambalzer said. Weber Costello, Rand McNally and Replogle are among the top three globe manufacturers according to Lambalzer. He added that the three were the main manufacturers in the first half of the 20th century and produced some of the most commonly encountered globes in the marketplace. For those who would like to start a collection of globes, Lambalzer said that for globes in good condition, with some age and worth collecting, buyers can expect to pay around $100. “Globes from before World War II are usually pricier and globes from before 1900 are increasingly rare and can run into the thousands of dollars depending on condition and rarity,” Lambalzer said. He added the most common globes in the vintage category are from the 1940s to the 1960s and while many are collectible, they are worth far less money. While most globes are missing a manufacturer’s date there are a few ways to determine the age of globe, the most reliable being geographical clues. New collectors can find many online guides and resources that provide listings of specific geographical clues to help date globes. Some of the most common geographical clues include if the country of Iran is shown as Persia which dates a globe having been made before 1935. If Israel is shown then the globe was made after 1948. If Vietnam is one nation vs being split as North and South, then the globe was made after 1976. Lambalzer suggested for those just starting or considering starting to collect world globes to, “Buy a globe or an object because you love it. Never buy anything with profit in mind. When you buy anything vintage, most collectors I know buy because they like it. Most of the globe collectors I know are also history and geography buffs. “Globes don’t make good maps, but they do provide a great perspective of where different countries are located on the earth and how far away they are from each other. They show where all the oceans and waterways are located. What they don’t show are details such as roadways.” Lambalzer recommends researching a globe before purchasing to make sure the price is in the right range. He estimates his collecting time is spent on 90 percent research and 10 percent buying and selling. For more details about Lambalzer’s globe collections and other details, visit his blog at http://antiqueglobes.blogspot.com. Some online resources for those who want to learn more include: •www.metskers.com •http://www.tourdethrift.com/global-charm-collecting-vintage-globes-and-maps/ • www.ultimateglobes.com • www.antiquemapsandglobes.com •www.longwood.edu/cleanva/datingglobes.htm |