Lunar and celestial globes have always been produced in much smaller numbers than terrestrial globes due to less demand. Lunar globes in particular were rarely made in larger quantities until the early 1960s when the Space Race heated up. Even still most American globemakers only ever made one version of their lunar globes so when you start shopping for one you’ll more than likely come across a Replogle version long before you find a Cram’s or Denoyer-Geppert. Even less common is the Weber Costello version. If you can find one; buy it! And if the actual globe is that hard to find; just imagine how hard it is to find the gores! This was one of the last models the company made shortly before they shut down in the late 1960's.

I was lucky enough to find two copies of one lunar hemisphere at auction and I’ve had them both framed up. I’m keeping one and selling this one.

The legend reads as follows - Lunar Data: Diameter- 2,160 miles, Circumference- 6,786 miles, Mean distance from Earth- 238,900 miles, Elevation figures- Depth of crate in feet, (Rim crest to crate floor), Scale 1:11,404,800 or 1 inch to 180 miles, Weber Costello, Made in the USA, Published by Benefic Press, Chicago, ILL., 330-191

This was a very detailed globe and the gores are packed with information, names, altitudes, etc. While most of the early probes and Apollo landings are documented on the other hemisphere, this one does have the cartouche for Weber Costello and the Apollo 12 (1969) landing site. You’ll also find notes used in the manufacturing process; cut lines, color tests marks and feed direction arrows. The dark side carries much very little information other than the legend and some lunar orbiters along with 3 sites: Jules Verne crater, Tsiolkowsky crater and the Mare Moscoviense or Sea of Moscow.

You can find clips on Youtube that show how globes of this era would have been made. Basically, these poster sheets would be glued to a card stock backer and rolled smooth before getting cut to size. The star shaped piece would have then been pressed into a dome shape before being attached to its pair. Equator tape to hide the seam would the the last step.

I’ve only seen a couple Weber Costello lunar globes offered for sale and never come across the gores for any lunar globe. This is truly a unique opportunity to purchase a stunning artifact.

The gores have been custom framed with UV rated glass. The gold toned wood brings out a similar color in the shadows of the craters. The frame is in perfect condition.

Overall measurements are 24” x 32”

Item # 0320WCLUNGOR