Thoughts on Antique Maps

Antique Globes Another Type of Collectible

Remember when teachers used globes of the world to explain about geography? It wasn’t that long ago. My daughter, who is now fifteen, was given a globe of the world when she was six and it seemed like a nifty gift at the time then, but now everyone uses computers to find there way around the planet.

Besides the names and the boundaries of various nations keep changing. This month I wrote my antique column in What’s Up? Annapolis and What’s Up Eastern Shore magazines (November 2008 at www.whatsupmag.com)  about maps, but I didn’t have space to talk about globes.  The older ones, certainly fall into the category of antiques and collectibles.

There are those colorful small tin globes  of the world that were made between the 1920s and 1950s. Small in size that sat atop many school desks and were used for easy reference. The there are the early, and much coveted, leather globes that were crafted and made by hand.  Values can range from a few dollars to several hundred, depending on materials and condition.  For someone who likes to travel they can  make a fine and unusual gift.