The technique of transmission electron holography has been employed to investigate the nanoscale features of graphitic nanotubes (buckytubes) and their particulate derivatives. Reconstructed phase images of holograms offer a quantitative means to calculate the mean inner potential (MIP), thickness profiles, and three‐dimensional morphology for multi‐/single shell buckytubes, their ‘‘tips’’ and other enclosed structures. It is demonstrated that electron holography is also sensitive to the defect nature of termination and bending in buckytubes and their particulate derivatives. Phase sensitivity of about 0.1 rad is demonstrated for single‐layer buckytube, which corresponds to change in phase due to two monolayers of carbon. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.