Hoarder or historian – what is a collection?

Extracts from: More than a collector? presentation by Mandy Bede, president of the Ephemera Society of Australia, at Rare Books Week 2025 at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria

Principle 1: We are talking about ephemera which is:

• Printed not manuscript; and
• In our case, usually Australian; and
• Intended to have a limited life, not to be kept; and
• Publicly distributed; and
• If sold, for a modest price, for example a postcard or greeting card; and/or
• Sometimes published as a set.

There are always exceptions that collectors will deem necessary or relevant to their collection. 

Principle 2: A collector makes a collection which:

• Is more than three items that are connected by subject e.g. three football collectables; or

• Can also be more than three items that are connected by format – for example, three badges.