Historic Snapshot as Art – The Globe

Vintage maps are decorative art. The antique world globe is the perfect accessory to the den or office where map art is embraced.

Mapmaking dates back to the 1400s. World globes were not produced in significant numbers until the 1600s. It is fascinating to see how the political boundaries, names of countries and boundaries have changed over time. Does the globe show Persia or Iran? Constantinople or Istanbul? The Soviet Union or the 15 new countries it was broken out to? Tanganyika or Tanzania? Israel listed as a country? A globe can be dated by these political boundary and name changes.

Globes were created by printing maps on paper gores that were cut, folded and glued onto a round frame. Watch the process!

HatTip to British Pathe