The Erdapfel of Martin Behaim is the oldest globe presently known to exist. It is drawn on parchment and stretched on a sphere of 541 centimeters in diameter. It is illuminated and decorated with flags and pictures of kings. The globe is rich in geographical detail, and reflects a faithful picture of the state of geographical knowledge on the eve of the first voyage of Columbus. Some believe that Behaim used a large mappa mundi by Henricus Martellus Germanus as the basis for his globe

     The major problem with the globe is that it does not accurately represent the distance between Europe and China. The Ugandan stamps show the relationship between Europe and China as it was understood by Behaim.