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The Globemakers: The Curious Story of an Ancient Craft
“Peter Bellerby's tale of learning how to fashion worlds-a journey through history, science, craft, and passion-spun me on my axis.”-Dava Sobel, New York Times bestselling author of Longitude
The beautifully illustrated story of our globe and the globes it has inspired, told from inside the workshop of one of the world's last globemakers, with four-color photos throughout.
Many of us encounter a globe as children. We find a grown-up and ask, “Where are we?” They spin the globe and point to a minuscule dot amidst a massive expanse of sea and land. Thousands of questions follow. A profound convergence of art and science, a globe is the ultimate visualization of our place in our galaxy and universe. To be a globemaker requires a knowledge of geography, skilled engineering, drawing, and painting, and only a few people in history have ever really mastered the craft.
When Peter Bellerby set out to make a globe for his father's eightieth birthday, after failing to find a suitable one to purchase, he had no idea where the process would lead. He went on to establish Bellerby & Co, one of the only artisan globemakers in the world. The Globemakers brings us inside Bellerby's gorgeous studio to learn how he and his team of cartographers and artists bring these stunning celestial, terrestrial, and planetary objects to life. Along the way he tells stories of his adventure and the luck along the way that shaped the company.
A full-color photographic portrait of a lost art, The Globemakers is an enlightening exploration of globes, or “earth apples,” as they were first known, and their ability to show us ourselves and our place in an infinite universe.
The beautifully illustrated story of our globe and the globes it has inspired, told from inside the workshop of one of the world's last globemakers, with four-color photos throughout.
Many of us encounter a globe as children. We find a grown-up and ask, “Where are we?” They spin the globe and point to a minuscule dot amidst a massive expanse of sea and land. Thousands of questions follow. A profound convergence of art and science, a globe is the ultimate visualization of our place in our galaxy and universe. To be a globemaker requires a knowledge of geography, skilled engineering, drawing, and painting, and only a few people in history have ever really mastered the craft.
When Peter Bellerby set out to make a globe for his father's eightieth birthday, after failing to find a suitable one to purchase, he had no idea where the process would lead. He went on to establish Bellerby & Co, one of the only artisan globemakers in the world. The Globemakers brings us inside Bellerby's gorgeous studio to learn how he and his team of cartographers and artists bring these stunning celestial, terrestrial, and planetary objects to life. Along the way he tells stories of his adventure and the luck along the way that shaped the company.
A full-color photographic portrait of a lost art, The Globemakers is an enlightening exploration of globes, or “earth apples,” as they were first known, and their ability to show us ourselves and our place in an infinite universe.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 17, 2023
25 people are currently reading
2878 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 23, 2024
Apparently Behaim’s globe, AKA The Erdapfel made between 1492-1494 by Martin Behaim in Nuremberg in Germany is the oldest known globe. But as any expert or science geek will tell you, the earth isn’t actually a sphere as such, more of an oblate spheroid.
First and foremost this book is about promoting a business, which I suppose is fair enough. Though this may be the most smug, cloying and whitest thing I have ever read. The self-satisfaction and self-promotion drips from every page. I mean sweet Jesus! How many angles of a globe can we see and how many staged photos of the author can we endure?!...
Now don’t get me wrong, I have a deep appreciation for the level of skill, patience and craftsmanship that goes into creating these high quality products, but in the end I felt like I was enduring one, overly long humble-brag.
Ah bless him, he desperately tried to so hard to work on that origin myth story, which doesn’t quite work, but to be fair Aston Martin driving, former TV media guy who made money in property turns to globe making, doesn’t really have that ring to it, so let’s re-frame that to a nice, quaint story about making a birthday present for his dear old dad instead.
The layout was clearly in the language of those overpriced lifestyle magazines where appearances are deemed more important than the actual text. I struggled to find much of this interesting, he has no gift for writing and this is a really dull book and to me this is really no more than a glorified brand catalogue aimed at his high-end clients.
Oh and for god sake he actually thanks… “The 2008 financial crisis-and the Bank of England’s interest rate period panel for their adept handling of the macro economy in 2008.”
October 3, 2023
This book is very stunning. The pictures add such an artistry to this well designed novel. The story combines a hearty amount of historical background with personal anecdotes about the beguiling quality of globes. It is successful as both a discussion of the craft and a journey towards the achieve ent of a lifelong dream to be a globe maker. Captivating and enchanting, this book was a whimsical journey that I did not want to end.
November 30, 2023
So cool. Wow. So much work. Interesting world geography facts as well.
September 21, 2023
I loved this book. The highlights are the autobiographical content, the vivid descriptions on how to make globes, the beautiful photos, and the clear conversational writing. It was more like having coffee with Bellerby than reading a book. A lot of the content is about Bellerby’s company but it does not come across as promotional, in part because Bellerby can be self-effacing and discusses his successes and failures. Bellerby also readily gives credit where credit is due to the people around him. This is one of those books where I will miss the author and his staff. Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advance reader copy.
February 18, 2024
Interesting read, not a topic I appreciate the side bar portions discussing geographical concepts and map/globe history in addition to the main story. A beautifully designed book as well with all of the interspersed pictures of the studio and artwork.
September 15, 2025
A beautiful book celebrating the joy, trials and tribulations of globe construction.
Peter Bellerby takes us on a journey recounting the endeavours he went through to master the craft of globe making and provides us with a potted history of this amazing item.
Full of facts, details about how globes are made and anecdote of experiences encountered whilst establishing the only globe making company on the planet.
Wonderful photography and a book to escape into.
Peter Bellerby takes us on a journey recounting the endeavours he went through to master the craft of globe making and provides us with a potted history of this amazing item.
Full of facts, details about how globes are made and anecdote of experiences encountered whilst establishing the only globe making company on the planet.
Wonderful photography and a book to escape into.
June 13, 2024
This book got off to a bit of a rough start for this reader, a bit too much of the ‘rich man (really a grownup kid)’ struggle with life at the outset. I am glad I pushed past the initial annoying, what should I do with my life sections, as the process by which author Peter Bellerby learned about and built a bespoke globe business was fascinating. The inserts related to the history of geography or aspects of cartography were a bit superficial. The book itself is a very pretty, well-designed publication – just a good book to hold in your hands. I was glad that the publisher opted for a heavy grade of paper, it felt sympathetic to what Bellerby sought to accomplish with his globes. In all, a good read for map aficionados and for fans of the ‘how I done good’ type of memoir.
July 13, 2023
A beautifully illustrated and very informative book! Written in first person, you feel like the author is personally telling you the story of their fascination with globes.
January 4, 2024
This is an exquisite book describing the creation of bespoke hand-crafted globes, resulting in an award-winning business. The author had the idea of giving his father a globe for his 80th birthday but couldn't find anything suitable, so he then set about trying to make one himself. This was the originating idea. He describes how trial and error, and what seems like sheer force of will, eventually produced a globe, detailing all the various steps, problems and solutions encountered along the way. Most people will know a globe through the tin plate or plastic ones seen at school, but the globes produced in this book are on a different level altogether! Maybe a touch too expensive for me, but I can always dream. The photos and descriptions throughout the book are incredible, and also show how to build a successful business from scratch, including the successes and failures along the way.
September 10, 2023
the definition of a WOAH book!
rtc!!!
rtc!!!
September 19, 2024
The idea of representing a map of the world in the form of a globe is usually credited to Crates of Mallus in the second century BC, although it's not known whether he ever put his vision into practice – the oldest surviving example is Martin Beheim’s Erdapfel (Earth-Apple) of 1490, which reflects a pre-Colombian worldview in which someone sailing west from Cape Verde will find themselves arriving in Japan. The map was painted onto gores that were then pasted onto the globe; in contrast, in 1507 Martin Waldeseemüller introduced a woodcut printing process: "It was at this point that the globemaking craft became assimilated with the printing and publishing industry".
Historical details such as these are scattered throughout Peter Bellerby's book, in which the main text is presented magazine-style in double columns and heavily illustrated. However, the work is not so much a history of globemaking as Bellerby’s memoir of how he came to create his bespoke luxury globemaking firm from scratch, burning through his (considerable) savings as he taught himself the various stages of the process. His initial impetus was to give his father a globe for his eightieth birthday, and this provides a narrative strand.
The book's chapters cover each stage of the globemaking process, from moulding spheres (the earth is spheroid, but if shrunk down to the size of a snooker ball would be within regulations) to creating maps using Abode, choosing the best paper and inks, getting meridians cast and engraved and even building the stands. This involved building links with foundries and firms such as Nicols Bros, a traditional wordturning firm in Walthamstow with a stock of wood going back decades (a text box extolls the virtues of London plane, thought be a hybrid of American sycamore and Oriental plane discovered by John Tradescant the Younger in Vauxhall in the seventeenth century). On fonts, Bellerby was fortunate to have received free advice James Mosley, former Librarian of the St Bride Printing Library, who happened to have passed by his first shop-front premises in Stoke Newington.
As part of the learning process Bellerby sought out historical globes for examination. The National Maritime Museum has a large collection, but according to the curator most "are in such poor condition that they can barely be moved, let alone displayed". He was, though, able to see a Bleau globe, "amazing and beautiful". An entire chapter is given over to "the hunt for Churchill's globe", which Bellerby undertook together with the author Simon Garfield. This refers to one of two oversized globes that were sent to Roosevelt and Churchill in 1943 by General Marshall as a PR exercise. Like thousands of other people I've seen it for myself as a tourist at Chartwell, where it sits in the same building as many of Churchill’s paintings, so this didn't seem to me to be much of a "hunt" – however, according to Bellerby Chartwell has a policy of denying its presence to telephone enquirers, due to fear that some museum might claim it from them. Bellerby now makes replicas of the globe, and he recounts being contacted by Bradfute Davenport, whose father B. Warwick was entrusted with bringing the globe across the Atlantic from Newfoundland. Roosevelt's globe, meanwhile, had been languishing in storage until the Franklin D. Roosevel Presidential Library and Museum realised its significance.
Historical details such as these are scattered throughout Peter Bellerby's book, in which the main text is presented magazine-style in double columns and heavily illustrated. However, the work is not so much a history of globemaking as Bellerby’s memoir of how he came to create his bespoke luxury globemaking firm from scratch, burning through his (considerable) savings as he taught himself the various stages of the process. His initial impetus was to give his father a globe for his eightieth birthday, and this provides a narrative strand.
The book's chapters cover each stage of the globemaking process, from moulding spheres (the earth is spheroid, but if shrunk down to the size of a snooker ball would be within regulations) to creating maps using Abode, choosing the best paper and inks, getting meridians cast and engraved and even building the stands. This involved building links with foundries and firms such as Nicols Bros, a traditional wordturning firm in Walthamstow with a stock of wood going back decades (a text box extolls the virtues of London plane, thought be a hybrid of American sycamore and Oriental plane discovered by John Tradescant the Younger in Vauxhall in the seventeenth century). On fonts, Bellerby was fortunate to have received free advice James Mosley, former Librarian of the St Bride Printing Library, who happened to have passed by his first shop-front premises in Stoke Newington.
As part of the learning process Bellerby sought out historical globes for examination. The National Maritime Museum has a large collection, but according to the curator most "are in such poor condition that they can barely be moved, let alone displayed". He was, though, able to see a Bleau globe, "amazing and beautiful". An entire chapter is given over to "the hunt for Churchill's globe", which Bellerby undertook together with the author Simon Garfield. This refers to one of two oversized globes that were sent to Roosevelt and Churchill in 1943 by General Marshall as a PR exercise. Like thousands of other people I've seen it for myself as a tourist at Chartwell, where it sits in the same building as many of Churchill’s paintings, so this didn't seem to me to be much of a "hunt" – however, according to Bellerby Chartwell has a policy of denying its presence to telephone enquirers, due to fear that some museum might claim it from them. Bellerby now makes replicas of the globe, and he recounts being contacted by Bradfute Davenport, whose father B. Warwick was entrusted with bringing the globe across the Atlantic from Newfoundland. Roosevelt's globe, meanwhile, had been languishing in storage until the Franklin D. Roosevel Presidential Library and Museum realised its significance.
May 5, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Globemakers is a layman accessible and fascinating monograph on the art and craft of globemaking by Peter Bellerby. Released 17th Oct 2023 by Bloomsbury, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is a fascinating book, full of background information (ancient and current) on globemaking. It's also a personal story with lots of the author's recollections on setting himself the task to learn (seemingly on a whim) how to make a globe which morphed into a demand for high end artisanal globes giving rise to his workshop in London (and soon expanding to NYC).
This could've been a dry-as-dust recitation, but it's anything but, being infused by the author's warmth and gentle self-deprecating humor. There are anecdotes and history from ancient times to relatively recent modern times. The book is also lavishly illustrated in color with photographs of the Bellerby studio and the artists working there to facsimile documents and drawings from ancient maps and books.
Four and a half stars. Engaging and gorgeously illustrated, this would be a very good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or for gift giving purposes.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Globemakers is a layman accessible and fascinating monograph on the art and craft of globemaking by Peter Bellerby. Released 17th Oct 2023 by Bloomsbury, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is a fascinating book, full of background information (ancient and current) on globemaking. It's also a personal story with lots of the author's recollections on setting himself the task to learn (seemingly on a whim) how to make a globe which morphed into a demand for high end artisanal globes giving rise to his workshop in London (and soon expanding to NYC).
This could've been a dry-as-dust recitation, but it's anything but, being infused by the author's warmth and gentle self-deprecating humor. There are anecdotes and history from ancient times to relatively recent modern times. The book is also lavishly illustrated in color with photographs of the Bellerby studio and the artists working there to facsimile documents and drawings from ancient maps and books.
Four and a half stars. Engaging and gorgeously illustrated, this would be a very good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or for gift giving purposes.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
August 15, 2023
The Globemakers: The Curious Story of an Ancient Craft by Peter Bellerby is a fascinating look into both the craft of globemaking and creation of one of the only companies making handcrafted globes. This is a history, a how-to (which is well beyond what most of us can afford to do), and a love story.
The genesis of the company, and of the book, was the desire to give his father a globe for his 80th birthday. Turns out, to give a quality globe was easier said than done, so he set out to do it himself. As we take this trip with him, we learn about mapmaking, globemaking, our planetary history, and the joy of pursuing one's interests.
The writing is engaging, whether we are reading about the history or the process of making the globes, and the photography is exceptional. While I'm sure many of the pictures are at least somewhat posed, they make the reader feel like we're there observing the process as it unfolds. And the finished products are beautiful.
While those with an interest in globes will certainly find a lot to enjoy here, anyone who enjoys learning about how things we sometimes take for granted (albeit, for most of us, cheaper versions) are made will absolutely come away with an entirely new appreciation for the globes we often use for decoration. If you just enjoy reading how someone found a niche, explored it, then jumped in with gusto you'll have a great time in this book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
The genesis of the company, and of the book, was the desire to give his father a globe for his 80th birthday. Turns out, to give a quality globe was easier said than done, so he set out to do it himself. As we take this trip with him, we learn about mapmaking, globemaking, our planetary history, and the joy of pursuing one's interests.
The writing is engaging, whether we are reading about the history or the process of making the globes, and the photography is exceptional. While I'm sure many of the pictures are at least somewhat posed, they make the reader feel like we're there observing the process as it unfolds. And the finished products are beautiful.
While those with an interest in globes will certainly find a lot to enjoy here, anyone who enjoys learning about how things we sometimes take for granted (albeit, for most of us, cheaper versions) are made will absolutely come away with an entirely new appreciation for the globes we often use for decoration. If you just enjoy reading how someone found a niche, explored it, then jumped in with gusto you'll have a great time in this book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
October 17, 2023
This book proved super interesting! I had no idea what a niche market globemaking can be, nor how it touches on so many topics--art, science, history, politics, religion, math, cartography, and more. (Reminds me of why I was a European Studies major in college--I craved that topical variety!)
I loved the pictures and artwork, and spent an inordinate amount of time studying the shades of blue used in the oceans--not to mention the skyline drawings! (Hello, London, my old friend.) And Bellerby's story itself proved fascinating; his hunt for a birthday present for his father began it all. I could certainly relate to that! (Hiiiii, hard-to-shop-for-but-dearly-loved Dad. :D) Although I'm not going to start a globemaking company to meet that need. Maybe I'll customize a deck of pinochle cards? Hehe!
But I digress. Back to the book.
The author and I may not agree on certain scientific matters, but I can't say I was surprised, heh. That thankfully barely detracted from the read; I had expected it somewhat, so checked it off and moved on. And there was so much to enjoy and appreciate about the read, this one thing I was unsurprised by proved nothing more than a checkmark blip--happy day. Truly a very pleasant reading experience, and one that prompted #allthegooglesearches on myriad minutiae throughout.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I loved the pictures and artwork, and spent an inordinate amount of time studying the shades of blue used in the oceans--not to mention the skyline drawings! (Hello, London, my old friend.) And Bellerby's story itself proved fascinating; his hunt for a birthday present for his father began it all. I could certainly relate to that! (Hiiiii, hard-to-shop-for-but-dearly-loved Dad. :D) Although I'm not going to start a globemaking company to meet that need. Maybe I'll customize a deck of pinochle cards? Hehe!
But I digress. Back to the book.
The author and I may not agree on certain scientific matters, but I can't say I was surprised, heh. That thankfully barely detracted from the read; I had expected it somewhat, so checked it off and moved on. And there was so much to enjoy and appreciate about the read, this one thing I was unsurprised by proved nothing more than a checkmark blip--happy day. Truly a very pleasant reading experience, and one that prompted #allthegooglesearches on myriad minutiae throughout.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 14, 2023
5 stars! This book was fantastic!
After college I spent some time as a maker in a collaborative pottery studio. Because of this I felt that I had a unique appreciation for the time and skill required to learn globe making.
Handmade globes were largely an extinct art form prior to Peter Bellerby wanting to make one for his dad as a birthday gift. After years of trial and error this led him to the creation of his globe making studio complete with watercolor and wood making artisans to aid in his craft.
I went to shop the globes on their website wishing that I could afford to put one of these masterpieces in my own home. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are beautiful, and so is this book complete with photos of the process and the studio.
Booksellers, this would be a great book to put on your gift books Christmas display. I will not be able to afford to buy one of these beautiful globes this year, but I will be buying a finished copy for my dad for Christmas!
This review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing my review copy.
After college I spent some time as a maker in a collaborative pottery studio. Because of this I felt that I had a unique appreciation for the time and skill required to learn globe making.
Handmade globes were largely an extinct art form prior to Peter Bellerby wanting to make one for his dad as a birthday gift. After years of trial and error this led him to the creation of his globe making studio complete with watercolor and wood making artisans to aid in his craft.
I went to shop the globes on their website wishing that I could afford to put one of these masterpieces in my own home. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are beautiful, and so is this book complete with photos of the process and the studio.
Booksellers, this would be a great book to put on your gift books Christmas display. I will not be able to afford to buy one of these beautiful globes this year, but I will be buying a finished copy for my dad for Christmas!
This review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing my review copy.
February 12, 2024
I had anticipated this taking the best part of a week to read but once started I found it quite impossible to put down. A wonderful documenting of one man's obsession with making the perfect globe and how this turned into a artisan business selling all over the world. I know the book is an extended advert for the business, full of Instagramable pictures but it is also a breautifully presented love letter to arts and crafts of any sort.
I do admit that on more than one occasion I found myself thinking of Slartibartfast, but then that happens more frequently than anyone would believe. I also found myself browsing the Bellerby and Co. website looking at their globes which range from £1,500 to £90,000 and thinking that my enjoyment of their works is probably going to be limited to this book.
I do admit that on more than one occasion I found myself thinking of Slartibartfast, but then that happens more frequently than anyone would believe. I also found myself browsing the Bellerby and Co. website looking at their globes which range from £1,500 to £90,000 and thinking that my enjoyment of their works is probably going to be limited to this book.
March 2, 2024
I'm in my 30s and my parents texted me one day about a talk they went to about globes that was neat- I took a look at how expensive the globes were and dismissed it all. A bit later, I went to visit them.
Them: Go get that library book, under the table, it's the one about those globes
Me: What makes those things so expensive anyway? What's so great about a globe?
So I opened the book, planning to look at pictures for a few minutes to humor them and then move on to something more interesting... Instead, I spent the afternoon finishing the whole book. I now know what makes them so expensive and what's so great about a globe, and got answers to every question I came up with while reading (like "what??? that one's huge, how would you even get it anywhere). I've never in my life thought about how globes were made and it's actually fascinating!
Them: Go get that library book, under the table, it's the one about those globes
Me: What makes those things so expensive anyway? What's so great about a globe?
So I opened the book, planning to look at pictures for a few minutes to humor them and then move on to something more interesting... Instead, I spent the afternoon finishing the whole book. I now know what makes them so expensive and what's so great about a globe, and got answers to every question I came up with while reading (like "what??? that one's huge, how would you even get it anywhere). I've never in my life thought about how globes were made and it's actually fascinating!
November 15, 2023
3.5 stars rounding down. Advertising masquerading as a memoir masquerading as a history book -- though granted, reading the cover synopsis makes it sound less like a history of globemaking than the book's subtitle does, but I did expect a little more historical detail. The book's content is really quite slim, for a 200+ page book, padded out by an enormous number of photos and little insets about sometimes globemaking, sometimes very basic geographical or astronomical factoids. The photography is always very nice quality, so that's not the worst thing, but it highlights just how slight the content is at times. The "this is how I learned to build a globe" stuff is mildly-to-moderately interesting, so I don't regret reading it, but it felt a little insufficient.
May 26, 2024
A very well written book describing how the author started his business of making world globes. Originally thinking of making a globe for his father's birthday, his efforts eventually became well known and his business is now thriving.
His book tells about the problems he ran into and how he overcame them while at the same time, explaining to the readers about the world the histories of globes and their manufacture and other tidbits of "atlas trivia".
The book is filled with beautiful pictures showing his products and the people who make these beautiful bespoke globes!
I enjoyed this tremendously and will eventually get a copy to add to my "map and atlas" collection. Sadly, I doubt if I'll ever get one of their globes, much as I'd like to!
His book tells about the problems he ran into and how he overcame them while at the same time, explaining to the readers about the world the histories of globes and their manufacture and other tidbits of "atlas trivia".
The book is filled with beautiful pictures showing his products and the people who make these beautiful bespoke globes!
I enjoyed this tremendously and will eventually get a copy to add to my "map and atlas" collection. Sadly, I doubt if I'll ever get one of their globes, much as I'd like to!
August 12, 2023
An outstanding read! Every part of this book is so fascinating! I requested this ARC because I like to learn new random things and this is probably my favorite random thing I’ve read and learned. There’s so many little details that you’d think might not be important but they are and the craft is just so interesting. Also the book itself is beautifully designed, the illustrations and photos are gorgeous, I will definitely be buying a copy of this for my personal collection and requesting it be purchased at my library, we must own this!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2024
While I still have about 50 pages left to read, I think I've read enough to add a review. Based on the title and summary, I expected this to be more a history of globemaking. Instead, it's the history of a modern globemaking company founded in the 2000s and how it makes it's globes. While there were some "sidebars" with more historical information, these were few and far between. Yet those sidebars where the most interesting bits of the book.
In terms of the writing style, it's written conversationally. Thus it's easy to read and there are clear explanations.
My review is based on an advanced reader copy I'm far behind in reviewing...
In terms of the writing style, it's written conversationally. Thus it's easy to read and there are clear explanations.
My review is based on an advanced reader copy I'm far behind in reviewing...
September 14, 2023
Brilliant memoir chronicling Peter Bellerby’s attempt to make a globe for his father that in turn launched an international globe making company.
This story is just as much about perseverance as it is about the physical tasks associated with making globes. History, geography, astronomy, art, and architecture all play a role in Peter learning this new craft. He details years of trial and error through each part of the process, how to create a sphere, mapping, putting the map on the sphere, etc…
If you enjoy learning new skills, you’ll enjoy how Peter walks through the process!
This story is just as much about perseverance as it is about the physical tasks associated with making globes. History, geography, astronomy, art, and architecture all play a role in Peter learning this new craft. He details years of trial and error through each part of the process, how to create a sphere, mapping, putting the map on the sphere, etc…
If you enjoy learning new skills, you’ll enjoy how Peter walks through the process!
January 29, 2024
What a cool book! I knew nothing about globemaking beyond gores; now I know a whole lot more, both of the multiple crafts involved and of its history.
But what makes the book great is the author's personal story, telling how he went from making a handmade globe for his father's 80th birthday to starting a bespoke globe company with a worldwide audience and customer base.
It's a review of both the history of globemaking and of our recent history from 2008 to now.
I recommend this book to anyone with an ounce of curiosity.
But what makes the book great is the author's personal story, telling how he went from making a handmade globe for his father's 80th birthday to starting a bespoke globe company with a worldwide audience and customer base.
It's a review of both the history of globemaking and of our recent history from 2008 to now.
I recommend this book to anyone with an ounce of curiosity.
June 5, 2024
This is a fascinating account of the creation of a bespoke globe making company started in the UK by a man who needed a birthday present for his 80 year old engineer father. Several years later he delivered the globe and along the way, Peter Bellerby solved many design and construction problems and learned all about globes and mapmaking.
Now we can look over his shoulder and learn as well.
Needless to say, I yearn to see one of his globes.
Now we can look over his shoulder and learn as well.
Needless to say, I yearn to see one of his globes.
November 9, 2024
This was an excellent read and full of fun and interesting facts as well as an intriguing story from the author. The pictures throughout added another level of beauty and awe as well as fed my insatiable curiosity more as I got a chance to see some of what was being written about.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to learn new things and experience the world through new and different perspectives.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to learn new things and experience the world through new and different perspectives.
November 11, 2023
Great breezy read about the history of globe-making, intertwined with the story of a British company that decided to re-launch artisanal globe-making from the ashes. Learned a lot about how top quality globes are made (it’s very complicated) as well as the history of the art. Told in a very readable style, with some outstanding illustrations and photography. Makes me want to order a globe!
January 13, 2024
Beautiful and fascinating story of the complicated and intricate process of making globes, told by the man who more or less invented his own methodology from the ground up. Gorgeously illustrated with photographs and drawings. I only wish that the people and places in the photos were labeled and credited. There is something to look at and admire on every page.
May 5, 2024
I grabbed this from the library because it had really nice pictures and illustrations, not knowing it was about the finer details of globemaking. The parts about the mapmaking aspects were quite interesting, but the parts about crafting and building... not as much. It was good, but I'm not sure I really enjoyed it. But hey... at least it was only 200 pages.
June 26, 2023
As a lover of maps in general I really enjoyed this book about the art and science of making a globe, and learned so much. The authors account of his coming to the craft of globe making was a wonderful read. I will be visiting London this summer and hope to look in the windows or visit his shop
October 7, 2023
Map making is fascinating and the history of it is even better. One learns about the way people in time thought of themselves and their place in the world. This is evident in this book and I highly recommend this.
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