A photo of just some of the globes I have in my shop, waiting for their new homes.
I just might have a vintage globe obsession. Seriously.
I search for vintage items for my shop pretty much everywhere I go, and it seems I find at least one vintage globe each trip. They just jump out at me and I feel compelled to buy them. All of them. And, oh the variety! Some have wire bases (my favorites), some have art deco wood and metal bases, atomic era bullet shaped bases, groovy clear acrylic bases from the 70s, and the list goes on. I am particularly drawn to globes with blue oceans or bluish-green oceans. I also really love those hard-to-find black ocean globes – they are the cream of the crop for me! I think the tan or beige ocean globes are nice, but I prefer the pop of color from the more vibrant globes.
Globes that show wear are aesthetically pleasing to me – it shows that the globe was well used and gives it character. I like character. Especially vintage character. And especially in globes. Yeah… I might really have an obsession.
Dating a Globe
The first thing I look for in a globe is its age. The older, the better. The easiest way to tell the age of a globe is by the countries on the globe. Here’s my 5-point checklist to be sure the globe is vintage (20 years or older):
- USSR – If the globe includes Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), you know it is from 1990 or earlier.
- Vietnam – If the globe shows Vietnam versus North Vietnam and South Vietnam, you know it is from 1976 or later (Vietnam is south of China). Keep in mind however, that Vietnam divided into North and South Vietnam in 1954, so you might have to use the other countries on this checklist to be sure of the age.
- Zambia – If the globe shows Zambia versus Northern Rhodesia, you know it is from 1964 or later (Zambia / Northern Rhodesia is in south central Africa).
- Ghana – If the globe shows Ghana versus Ashanti and/or Gold Coast, you know it is from 1957 or later (Ghana / Ashanti is in north Africa, north of the equator)
- Korea – If the globe shows Korea versus Chosen (Japan), you know it is from 1945 or later.
Uses for Vintage Globes
Vintage globes look right at home in any decor. They can also be used for other purposes. Here are some ideas:
- Display globes on a shelf or a mantle in your living room. Put them on a desk in an office. Add them to a credenza in an entryway.
- Remove the globe from its base and hang it from the ceiling. Wherever you display them, they are sure to be a conversation piece.
- Paint over the globe with black chalkboard paint and draw your own imaginary countries on the globe. This is fun to do for weddings – let your guests sign the globe with a chalk pen.
- Use map pins on a globe to keep track of all the places you’ve visited – a fun memento of your travels.
- Gather several globes and tuck them into am unused fireplace opening (just don’t light those worlds on fire!)
Resource for Dating Globes
Here is a very handy website you can use to help you pinpoint the date of your globe:
- Replogle Globes – This is usually the first website I visit when I need to find the date of a globe. With the handy list of countries and the years they were formed, I find this source invaluable.
TIP: For more research resources, click on the Vintage Resources menu at the top of the screen.
If you could choose any place in the world to travel to right now, where would you want to go?
Close your eyes, spin a globe, and see where your finger lands!
Third Shift,
Thanks for sharing those facts with us. I love to do the research and find the top five countries to begin to date the Globes I find in my thrifting adventures.
It is like I am going back in time, to recall what I was doing and where I was in my life. It is like I am doing research on my own life. Strange and cool at the same time. Memories flood back that make me smile and make me sad. The nice part about life is the sun sets everyday and rises everyday to make new memories.
Would love to time travel but for the present time I am living in the earth, and enjoying my vintage globes, ready for a new adventure. Thanks for the time to reflect on my memories!
Wonderful post.
I still own my globe even with a taped on equator. I loved it because it has relief ridges to feel where the mountains would be. And up in my parents attic (which are supposed to go through this fall) is the light up globe that came with a subscription for encyclopedias! We were so excited when those were bought. I love the variety of ones you included above especially the base on the top left one;)
vintage are the things that gives a very unique and elegant look to home decor.. people who have very classy taste of things always looking for such kind of things,,,
I think I have a pre Korea 12inch terrestrial and a ussr/post zambia16inch world classic.
Both reploge need help on dating. Please help tyia
Hi there. Could you please post links to photos of your globes? Once I can see the countries on the globe, it will help pin-point the dates.
Super helpful! Thank you for this post. I have a standing globe that would have been produced between 1957 and 1963. I see myself in the future wandering estate sales looking for globes to date!!
Can anyone tell me how old is this globe, or any other details?
I suspect it is before World War I.
For decades, and perhaps since as early as 1905, it has been in what used to be the Robert Benson Davis mansion on 330 Riverside Drive.
See here for a history of the photos, including pictures of Europe and the Middle East.
https://photos.google.com/u/0/share/AF1QipPNJQegCQwtd7QBAwrNoGIt0mCoQG71TtMKsiyfau8RBwcEotC0AWPj6Ga7vfxxpQ?key=TWhEQWZ3WkhJaUhETGFEdjk1VzZSZXhKNmFkMWpB
I am thinking of selling it, and researching its background.
Hi Brian – I took a look at the photos you posted in your link. It’s very hard to date your globe without seeing key points of it. This link lists countries and the year they changed their names (very helpful list) – https://replogleglobes.com/app/uploads/2018/11/How-old-is-your-globe.pdf I recommend you start at the bottom of this list and work your way up while you exam the globe. This should help date the globe. It’s definitely a cool globe!
My globe has Vietnam, Korea, Ghana and Zambia so how much is it worth
Hello Keyuna – There are many factors to consider when determining the value of a vintage globe: the age; the condition; the manufacturer; the base – just to name a few. An in-person appraisal is the best way to determine its value. You could bring your globe to a local antique dealer to see if they would be able to appraise your globe, or at least give you an idea of its value. I hope this helps.
This was extremely helpful! Apparently I have a 1997 Replogle 16” World Classic.
Thank you so much! Now I’m gonna go explore your shop. 🤗
Terrific information here! As I was sorting through some stuff after a move into my new house I became curious about the age of a globe I’ve held on two for years, as it was just always in our home when I was a child. What fascinated me so was the fact that Prussia is still listed on this globe and I don’t know when it happened but I do know now that pressure is no longer a country on anybody’s globe in current times! Just kind of fun to read through all of the comments and your information. Now to try to figure out the value in case I decide I really don’t have the room to keep it any longer.
I share your love of globes (and maps)! This old/inherited globe has no date(s) on it, but according to your “Dating a Globe” method; I think it’s somewhere between 1957 & 1964. It’s a 16″ glass (illuminated de inside, pull chain switch) globe that sits on a 20″ wooden stand. I am very interested in any information you could give me on it i.e. date of manufacture, worth, etc.). Keep doing what you’re doing and thank you: There’s a bunch of us globe lovers out here!