I was driving home and spied a cool world globe in the thrift store window. I went in and bought it for $2. Not too bad, especially when the good ones that have caught my eye online were $40+ and another $20 in shipping. I love the colors and I could tell it was vintage, but just how vintage?
Using this site, Dating Globes, I was able to first narrow it down to 1957-1961, because Tanzania was Tanganyika and Egypt
& Syria were the United Arab Republic. Now I’m pretty sure it’s from 1960 because it shows Congo, Chad and Nigeria which were all formed then. That was fun, but wouldn’t you think it would be easier if they had just printed the date of the globe? There’s a whole area devoted to the company (Rand McNally) so why not just add four numbers? There’s probably some very sensible explanation and I’m sure my dad could rattle off the answer from the top of his head.
I now have two globes. I just read on a blog recently where someone said if you have three of anything, that is a collection. So, now I need at least one more, but I’m thinking maybe two more, smaller and about 6″ in diameter. I just remembered a pencil sharpener globe (tiny) my parents had, or was it my sister? Yeah, I think one of these little guys is in my near future.
I took this picture on my camera phone and adjusted it for fun using picnik on flickr.
Cool! I love that there is a site to find out how old your globe is. I have to post some pictures of my globes. A few years ago they were going to throw out (YES! GOING TO THROW OUT!) several globes including a globe of the moon. I kept them in my classroom closet until last year when I finally brought them home. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for anymore discards.
Great find!
There’s a “dating globes” website?? This is just what I need to date the globe I rescued from a dumpster recently. :)