Consider the person who will receive the globe and what the globe will be used for. Will it be merely functional (allowing a student to visualize the world), or will it be displayed as an artistic piece?
Look at a variety of globes. Take into consideration size and colors - some globes have blue oceans, while others have cream-colored, or "antique," oceans. Also, think about the stand used for the globe and whether the surface of the globe is flat or shows certain feature, such as mountains, in relief.
Choose either a table globe or a floor model on a stand. Some globes actually convert from a floor to a table model with simple modifications.
Opt for an illuminated globe if you want it to light up from within.
Decide how much detail you want the globe to have. Choices range from the basic designation of countries to globes with tens of thousands of place names. (Obviously, the larger the globe, the more space for details.)
Be sure to check the globe for accuracy. In a rapidly changing political world, you want to get a globe that includes the latest country names and designations.
Buy the globe, making sure that it can be returned if the recipient wishes to exchange or return it.
