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.
