Collecting Rocks
Rachel M. Barker,
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Collectibles, collecting and memorabilia have become a favorite hobby of
millions of Americans and people throughout the world. For many
collectors, the desire to collect began when we were kids, either
because the love of collecting was encouraged by our parents or simply
because we discovered something that fascinated us and wished to learn
more about it. In the U.S., stamp collecting, coin collecting, rock and
mineral collecting, insect collecting — especially butterfly
collecting — and, of course, collecting marbles, baseball cards and
comic books for the boys and dolls and doll house miniatures for the girls
may have been how today’s adults got started as collectors. In
some cases what began as a hobby evolved to become a passion or even a
career in theme collectibles or memorabilia.
In this age of mass marketing, collectibles and memorabilia have fired
the imaginations of marketers and businessmen. Today our kids collect,
in addition to those collectibles we grew up with, such things as Hot
Wheels and Matchbox cars, trading cards of all types, and toys and
memorabilia from their favorite books and movies such as Lord of the Rings,
Harry Potter and Star Wars. Adults, wondering what the next craze for
their kids will be as they reminisce about their own youth, have turned to
era-collectibles which range from thimbles to model trains to vintage cars.
While collectibles and memorabilia have become big business, true collectors
pursue collecting not because they perceive monetary reward, but because
they enjoy the art, activity and creativity of collecting. Most often,
collectibles and memorabilia are acquired for decorative purposes or
because the collector has a personal passion relating to a theme around
which his or her collecting revolves.
Collecting is a great way to meet other people with interests similar to
your own. Should you develop a serious yen to further your penchant
for collecting, you may wish to join a collecting club, attend shows, or
converse with fellow collectors via email or chat rooms on the internet.
On the other hand, you may simply be a casual collector looking for a
unique t-shirt to wear to a picnic or a figurine to place in your curio
cabinet. While you’re here, check out our own collection to the
right, where we access some of the best sites for learning about and
purchasing collectibles.
Authored by Kenneth L. Anderson.
Original article published 20 December 2003, updated 13 April
2006.
Follow links to the right to learn more about collectibles, collecting and memorabilia.
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