Vintage Paper Collecting: Fun and Finds
Which valentine will strike a chord in a collector’s heart?
© Sheron Long
The Lasting Connections of Ephemera
I have only a fleeting understanding of the word ephemera, perhaps because it means something short-lived. In the collecting world, it refers to antique and vintage paper products whose intended use was not long-lasting—
postcards and calendar pinups,
movie memorabilia,
ticket stubs and bridge tallies,
greeting cards and old photos,
food and luggage labels,
concert handbills, and more.
And yet, families have stored away these items for years, even across generations. Collectors have preserved and enjoyed them, bought and sold them, donated them to museums, and thus extended their lives long past the intended use.
I found out why when I wandered into the recent Vintage Paper Fair in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. A...
