Ephemera Journal of Australia

Designed originally by Mimmo Cozzolino, the Ephemera Journal of Australia is a full colour, visual and text celebration of ephemera.

Featuring articles on historic and contemporary ephemera and collecting areas, the journal is a rich resource for the study and enjoyment of ephemera. A collectable in its own right, the Journal is a limited edition print run, which is free for ESA members.

The Ephemera Journal of Australia is produced annually (sometimes twice a year as a bonus for members!) and the next is currently in production.

Where do I get a copy?

The journal is provided to ESA members (complete the online form and join the ESA)
Some back copies of issues may be available for purchase. See the ESA Shop
Housed in State library collections

Latest Journal
Issue 9
March 2024

This issue is inspired by the ESA’s great travel ephemera collectors.

Enjoy the beauty, rarity and breadth of these collections.

ESA Membership benefit.
Limited stocks are available for purchase for AUS $20.00 plus $10.00 postage.

Ephemera Journal of Australia Issues 1 – 9 (2015 – 2024)

Issue 1 May 2015 (36pp)
Designer: Mimmo Cozzolino

‘Mrs Armstrong Collects 1920s swap cards’ – snapshot, Ian Armstrong Collection.
‘Winter Tourism in Australia’, Michael Aitken.
‘The Richard Felix Diaries’ – Meet the Collector, Amanda Bede.
‘Max Robinson resource map poster’ – Design legend centre spread.
‘With fondest Love from you loving bother Jim’ – wartime postcard correspondence, Amanda Bede.
‘Mr ‘Brain’ Watson’ – Collector Brian Watson shares highlights from his grocery and packaging collection.
‘Speed Dating Made Easy’ – accurately dating ephemera, Amanda Bede, Marg McCormack, Richard Aitken.

Issue 2 January 2016 (40 pp)
Designer: Mimmo Cozzolino

‘Help Wanted’ – Confectionery Money Boxes, Mimmo Cozzolino
‘ A cardboard history of Australian football, pre AFL’ – Footy cards, Francis Doherty.
Advertising pocket mirrors, Kris Waters Collection.
Art Deco ephemera, Amanda Bede.
‘Postcard pictures record local waterways history’ – Yarra and Port Phillip postcards, Barry Pemberton.
‘Meet the Collector’ – Bill Millar’s Badge Collection
Gallipoli’s Centenary ephemera’ Jill Sommers
‘Fruit Stickers’ – snapshot, Amanda Bede Collection

Issue 3 April 2018 (36pp)
Designer: Mimmo Cozzolino

‘Trade cards’ – Ian Stillwell Collection
‘Tin collector explains his hunger’ – Decorative biscuit tins, John K.
‘Love the Design, Hate the Waste’ – Take-away paper cups, Amanda Bede and Mimmo Cozzolino.
‘Records of an everyday life’ – Ian Banks scrapbook diaries, Amanda Bede.
‘Look closely at your company’ – Ephemera Dating advice, Barry Sturman.
‘Australia says YES’ – Marriage Equality Campaign, Nicholas Henderson.
‘Collecting early Australian Christmas Cards’, Michael Aitken.
‘Wine screwtop caps’ – snapshot, Mimmo Cozzolino Collection.

Issue 4 May 2019 (44pp)
Designer: Mimmo Cozzolino

‘My Mob’ – Michael Aitken’s Kangaroo Collection.
‘An Australian Icon’ – the history of the showbag, Dr Annette Shiell.
‘Social History of the Table’ – early Australian menus associated with Federation, Amanda Bede and Jillian Hiscock (RHSV).
‘Send them Plenty of Snaps’ – photo wallets.
‘Tea Bag Tags’ – snapshot David Harris Collection.

Purchase copies of the following issues at the ESA online Shop

Issue 5 March 2020 (36pp)
Designer: Mimmo Cozzolino

‘Wild about Ida’ – the commercial work of artist Ida Rental Outhwaite, Andrew N.
‘Swing High’ – collecting contemporary swing tags, Wendi Bradshaw.
‘Been There’- souvenir travel pennants, Dr Annette Shiell.
‘Matchbooks’ – snapshot, David Figg.

Issue 6 September 2020 (40pp)
Designer: Mimmo Cozzolino

‘Unprecedented? Ephemera of the Spanish Flu’, Edwin Jewell, AndrewHillier and Amanda Bede.
‘Lyrebirds or Liar-Birds?’ – Michael Aitken’s Collection.
‘Sweet Confections of a Candyman’ – Confectionery collector Will Muddyman shares highlights from his collection.
‘Carte de Visite’, Debra Parry.
‘From the Streets’ – collecting and documenting street pole stickers, Amanda Bede.
‘Australian bottle caps’ – snapshot.

Issue 7 June 2021 (36pp)
Designer: Mimmo Cozzolino

‘Beauty seen from afar’ – the Waratah, Michael Aitken’s Collection.
‘A Worthy Bookmark’ – contemporary bookmarks, Wendi Bradshaw.
‘Wheels of Knowledge’ – mechanical or moving ephemera, Andrew H, David Harris and Amanda Bede.
‘Dating postcards of the Golden Age 190o -1914’, Tim Glanville.
‘1970s Feminist Badges, Anne Gunter Collection’ – snapshot, Lee Burgemeestre.

Issue 8 December 2023 (48pp)
Designer: Mimmo Cozzolino

‘Finding Laughing Jacks’ – Michael Aitken’s Kookaburra Collection.
‘What I love most about kookaburras’ – Designer and collector Trevor Flett shares highlights from his collection.
‘Worthy Contenders’ – Discovering and documenting kookaburra ephemera, Mimmo Cozzolino.
‘How do you collect?’ – documenting collecting styles, Philip Moorhouse (The Collecting Bug).
‘Kookaburra Trademarks’ – snapshot, Mimmo Cozzolino.

Issue 9 March 2024 (44pp)
Designer: Susannah Low

‘Away with Ajay: a very private travel collector’, Amanda Bede.
‘Pleasure Programmes’ – Melbourne and Victoria vintage tourist booklets and brochures, Michael Aitken.
‘Airline Cards’ – airline playing cards, Wendi Bradshaw.
‘To the Blue Coast by the Blue Train’ – French tourist brochures, Kristen Thornton.
‘Blue Mountain Blue’ – tourism ephemera from the Blue Mountains, NSW, Susannah Low.
‘Undisturbed Area of Travel Ephemera’ – Please do not disturb signs, Susan Faine.
‘The 70s – Taking off Overland’ – Mimmo Cozzolino’s ‘adventure of a lifetime ephemera’ travel ephemera.
‘Australian luggage labels’ – snapshot, AJAY Collection.

**Note: The Ephemera Journal of Australia superseded Ephemera News in 2015.**