Small Japanese Paper Globe – c.1950

This delightful miniature globe captures the optimism of the early post-war years. Made in Japan around 1950, it features printed paper gores carefully applied over a lightweight sphere, set on a black painted wooden base with a simple metal arm.

Marked with the distinctive winged “Made in Japan” emblem, it’s a charming reminder of a world in flux — showing Burma, French Indo-China, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics before borders began to shift again.

Era: c.1950

Origin: Japan

Materials: Paper over composite sphere, painted wooden base, metal arm

Condition: Expected age wear, small paper losses near the North Pole, surface scuffing adds authentic vintage charm

Dimensions: approx. 15 cm high

Styling Tip: Perfect beside old travel guides or a stack of classics — especially with a magnifying glass or quill nearby for that explorer’s desk look.

Deb’s Note: I love how these early globes show the world as it was imagined mid-century — printed with care and optimism in postwar Japan.