Doubtless, collecting, and therefore collectors, goes back a long way.
When I was a child, my fascination with both postage stamps and coins compelled me to collect.
Gleefully, I’d soak (or steam) used stamps off any envelopes that arrived at my address. What a joy it was when overseas specimens arrived! My delight at the stamps far outweighed any considerations at hearing from far-away relatives and friends!
One of my high-school teachers learned of my collection, and rewarded each of my assignments with two or three foreign postage stamps. Doubtless, this carried with it a positive influence on my opinion of school-work.
Coins, on the other hand, were easy to come by, if you had some spare pocket-money. Pennies and half-pennies were in circulation, and eagerly I checked the dates on each. Like many others, I searched unsuccessfully for the rare, elusive 1930 penny: worth a small fortune, the newspapers reported.
In time, I grew up, and all but forgot about my once-loved interests.
Friends have shown me their various collections: dolls, figurines, shells, toys, books: you name it. No matter what they chose, collectors all seem to have one thing in common: an overwhelming fascination for their subject that often transcends the bounds of moderation.
© Copyright.