What different sizes of globe can you buy?
by Mark Jeffery, globemaker at goodwoodglobes
Globes come in many different sizes, from miniature to massive. The smallest globe in the world? How about a ½-inch diameter blue glass Earth globe marble. The largest globe money can buy? You won’t find another globe as magnificent as the 50-inch diameter Churchill from Bellerby & Co.
Here’s our guide to the best globes of every size, from the very, very small to the very, very large, you can buy from globemakers and globesellers around the world.
Miniature Globes < 3″ diameter
These tiny globes, as small as ½-inch diameter, have a wide range of uses, from Earth-conscious jewellery to games of planetary marbles.
Pocket Globes ≈ 3″ diameter
First made in the 17th century, pocket globes are small, terrestrial or celestial globes, traditionally enclosed in round cases showing the stars and constellations.
Small Globes 3″ – 9″ diameter
When it comes to globes, small can be beautiful. Though a 12-inch diameter seems to be the standard for globes these days, these 3- to 9-inch globes include some cartographic masterpieces.
Desk Globes 9″ – 15″ diameter
When we think of a globe, more often than not, we think of a desk globe. No study is complete without one of these medium-sized globes, typically spinnable on an axis though the North and South Poles, on the desk.
Floor Globes 15″ – 30″ diameter
No library is complete without a floor globe, mounted on a stand: antique or modern, wood or metal, elobarate or minimal.
Huge Globes > 30″ diameter
When it comes to size, some globemakers don’t know when to stop. The largest globes readily available today stretch to diameters of over 4 feet.
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