What better way to start a blog about globes then with a discussion about a globe. Pictured here is a 1930 Weber Costello 8 inch school globe, it is an offset mount ( tilted 23 degrees ) and it is supported on a copperized metal base. This is for many people a very good representation of what an antique globe looks like. Weber Costello Hammond, Rand McNally, and many others made this globe or one nearly like this for purchase by schools in the early 1/3 of the 20th century; a sturdy base, and manageable size made this an ideal school globe. Mass produced and bought by the thousands these globes are still fairly easy to obtain, and therefore a good place for a collector to start.
This example is in much better than average condition, the problem with these globes is usually a factor of where they were used, How many of these globes survived the classroom, and how many survived being hugely out of date after WWII? Also consider that running into the great depression, and then WWII many of these globes had to last many years in the classroom before being replaced probably in the late 1940's. This lovely globe really beat the odds and now after 84 years is doing great.
So is this an antique globe? Technically probably not. Many definitions of " antique" concern objects at least 100 years old, this is probably best called a vintage globe, but for our purposes here I will refer to any globe pre WWII as antique, and any globe after WWII as vintage. My personal collecting taste centers on globes produced pre WWII but the great thing about this hobby is there really is something for everybody.
In my next post I want to talk more about my personal collecting philosophy, as well as explore the different types of globe collectors out there. Stay tuned, my goal with this blog is to post once every two weeks or so, but as I get going posts will come at a faster rate.
PLEASE feel free to comment, criticize and share !!!!
Love the small Weber's. They are so beautiful and captivating.
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