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Collecting bookmarks

I have been slowly but surely accruing a collection of bookmarks over the years. Some are plain and utilitarian, several are adverts for books, publishers or bookstores, some are library marks, others are works of art. I have never really considered myself a collector of bookmarks – but being an avid reader, I grab them when and wherever I come across them, especially when they are free. The reason, of course, is that I keep losing them, usually inside books. Still, I have managed not to lose some of them and I estimate that I have maybe around 40, tucked away inside books and in my bookmarks holder.

A couple of years ago I got the idea of buying souvenir bookmarks when I travel, and the first ones I got are some lovely ones with panoramic photos of American national parks I visited last spring. This, however, is the farthest I have taken bookmark collecting. Perhaps it’s because I do not want to end up like my grandmother, whose postcard collection has taken over her larder and numbers somewhere high in the five digit range, but the main reason is that I would rather have room for more books. However, postcard collecting is a serious hobby for some:

This guy's collection made it into the Guinness Book of Records:
Frank Divendal. All I can say is WOW!

I found the article on Divendal on a website dedicated to bookmarks: Mirage bookmark


And here are some Flickr groups dedicated to showcasing bookmarks:

Bookmarks

Vintage Bookmarks

Advertising Bookmarks

Amazing Bookmarks
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