Interesting facts through collectibles: Eiffel Tower opens

What comes to your mind when you think about France? The first thing to pop up into the most people's head is the Eiffel Tower. It is not only the most recognizable symbol of  France but also it is the most-visited paid monument in the world.

Phonecard, Eiffel Tower, France, 2001, Colnect Catalog

After 2 years of hard work, construction of the Eiffel Tower was finally finished on March 15, 1889. After 16 days, on March 31, it was opened and celebrated by commencing the first ascent to the top of the tower. The elevator was not working yet, so 1,710-step climb had to be done by foot.

Coin, 10 Dollars (Eiffel Tower - Paris, France), Cook Islands, 2007, Colnect Catalog

Eiffel Tower is very popular in the collecting world. There are many different types of items which display this magnificent tower. Here are some examples from our categories of coins, phonecards, and even lego sets.

Lego Set, Eiffel Tower, Advanced Models, 2007, Colnect Catalog

On average, 25,000 people are visiting the tower every day. The most popular Eiffel Tower-themed collectibles are postcards and stamps. In addition to being able to share the experience with family and friends, they serve as a memory trigger for the days of visiting Paris and the Eiffel Tower.

Postcard, Paris. Eiffel Tower and Trocadero gardens, France, Colnect Catalog

Do you collect the collectibles of a specific topic? If yes, share in comments the topic you're interested in. 

Stamp, Chagall - The Betrothed and Eiffel Tower, France, Colnect Catalog

If you want to contribute to Colnect you are welcome to check Contributor Guide. To purchase or sell your collectibles feel free to visit Colnect Marketplace.

Famous people through collectibles: Stephen Hawking

A theoretical physicist and cosmologist, Stephen William Hawking, passed away at the age of 76. He died on March 14 at his home in Cambridge, England.

Stamp, Stephen Hawking, Palau, 2000, Colnect Catalog

During his life, Stephen Hawking managed to get many achievements under his belt. His research was mainly based on Einstein's theory of relativity. One of his most famous works was even named after him, Hawking radiation.

Stamp, Hawking radiation, Isle of Man, 2016, Colnect Catalog

He was loved by many. His uplifting spirit, fierce intellect, and witty humor earned him spot in people's hearts. Despite being paralyzed he never gave up on being "a normal human being with the same desires, drives, dreams, and ambitions as the next person".

Postcard, Stephen Hawking, United States of America, 2010, Colnect Catalog

Many collectibles were made to celebrate his life and surely, even more, will be made in memory of Stephen Hawking. Some of these items can be found on Colnect. As collectors, let's prolong his life and honor his death through the hobby of collecting. May he rest peacefully.

Stamp, Prof. Stephen Hawking, Isle of Man, 2016, Colnect Catalog

Do you want to contribute to Colnect? You are welcome to add new items, add images and information to already existing items, help to translate catalog to your language, edit the catalog, write wiki articles, and even create your own categories. For collectibles you would like to trade, you are welcome to visit Colnect Marketplace.

100,001 Postcards Cataloged

We are happy to announce that postcard category on Colnect keeps on growing and this time it reached the milestone of 100,001.

Pozzallo - Il porto, Italy, Colnect Catalog

Thank you to coordinators Vadym Sulimenko [Dravec] and Grzegorz Pająk [quarteris] and everyone else who contributed to making it happen. You guys are doing an amazing job at making Colnect better.

A postcard is a piece of thin paper which makes it possible to write and mail without using envelopes. Did you know that the study and collecting of postcards are called deltiology? Deltiologists collect postcards for various reasons. Some are just attracted to postcards, while others are trying to collect postcards with some specific theme. 

Arcipelago Night - House with Maypole, Sweden, Colnect Catalog

Several different uses were found for postcards other than its original one. Many schools are using postcards as the way of teaching geography and also postcards are used by libraries and historical societies to determine how a certain city used to look like at a particular time in history.

Pyatigorsk. Grotto of Lermontov. Academic Gallery, Soviet Union, USSR, Colnect Catalog

Colnect has been built by collectors just like you. Are you interested in contributing to Colnect? Then you can go and check our Catalog Contribution Guidelines page and start making the Colnect better.

88,888 Postcards on Colnect!

Colnectors meet the new milestone of Postcards category! This time we have passed the point of  88,888 POSTCARDS!

Suwa Park, Japan, 1910, Colnect catalog

"Postcards" is one of the fastest growing categories on Colnect! More than 1,000 postcards from 73 countries have been added to the catalog for the last month.

Konstanz, band of frogs playing music, German Realm, 1925, Colnect catalog

The Postcards catalog is divided into countries, authors, issuers, colorings, orientations, views, years, themes and newly added for easy browsing. There are postcards from 261 countries all over the world in our catalog. We have 555 postcards with pictures of sunrises/sunsets, 969 Elephant-themed postcards, and 696 postcards with maps on them. Explore our Postcard catalog and find more and more various postcards.

Milan Peace Arch, Italy, 1954, Colnect catalog

We would like to say the special thank you to the super cool coordinators of the Postcards category, Vadym Sulimenko [Dravec] and Grzegorz Pająk [quarteris]. Their enthusiastic work developing the category is making it bigger and better every year.

Lighthouse Fastnet. Ireland, Russia, 2013, Colnect catalog

We would also like to thank all the dedicated 27 editors, 61 translators, and 228 contributors that have helped the category to reach the new beautiful milestone.

Saurolophus, USSR, 1990, Colnect catalog

Do you want to join us and develop Colnect together? We always welcome and appreciate any help. There are many ways you can help us make the Colnect catalog better: add new items, add images and information to existing ones, translate catalog to your language, edit the catalog, write wiki articles, and even create a new category.

83,838 postcards on Colnect reached!

Colnect catalog is growing fast and this year we marked passing two milestones of Colnect postcard category - 66,666 and 77,777 postcards. Now it's time to add more variety to the milestone numbers and we are happy to celebrate the new awesome milestone of 

83,838 postcards!

Istanbul. Blue Mosque, night view, Turkey. Postcard from Colnect catalog

It`s hard to express how much we appreciate the work of dedicated coordinators of Postcard category, Vadym Sulimenko [Dravec] and Grzegorz Pająk [quarteris]. Thank you for all the things you do to keep the category grow and develop.

Breitling Orbiter 3. First Balloon flight around the world, Switzerland. Postcard from Colnect catalog

Also, Postcard catalog wouldn`t be so beautiful, diverse and impressive without the great contribution of the editors, translators, and contributors. Thank you, collectors!

Windhoek. Christuskirche, the Lutheran Church, Namibia. Postcards from Colnect Catalog

For the last four months, more than 6,060 postcards from 132 countries were added to the catalog. The most of them are from Germany, Federal Republic, USSR, and Italy.

Christian Dallmeier: Blick in die Welt, Germany, Federal Republic. Postcard from Colnect catalog

Recently added postcards feature 347 themes. The most popular of them are Townscapes/City Views, Buildings, Architecture, and Landscapes.

Happy New Year! greetings, USSR. Postcard from Colnect catalog

Want to join us as a contributor? Please read our Postcards Catalog Contribution Guidelines. You can learn more details on how to contribute to Colnect on the Contributor Guide.

Riviera Ligure, Italy. Postcard from Colnect catalog

77,777 Postcards on Colnect!

In the beginning of this year we have marked reaching 66,666 Postcards on the Colnect catalog. It's now summer, the year not even entering its final season, and the Postcards catalog has already reached its new impressive milestone of 

77,777 Postcards on the catalog!

"Rila. Seven Lakes of Rila" 1982 Bulgaria Postcard, from the Colnect catalog

We would like to thank the wonderful coordinators of the Postcards category, Vadym Sulimenko [Dravec] and Grzegorz Pająk [quarteris]. Their dedicated work developing the catalog is keeping it beautiful, updated and more and more complete every year.

"Alexei Leonov. The docking of Soyuz and Apollo. 1977" Soviet Union, USSR 1987 Postcard, from the Colnect catalog

We would also like to thank all the dedicated help of all postcards editors and contributors that have helped add over 11,111 postcards this year.

"Seven sunset. Kamchatka, Kluchevskiy park" Russia 2014 Postcards, from the Colnect catalog

256 Countries are featured on the catalog. The countries with most added postcards since the last milestone are Soviet Union, USSR, Czechoslovakia and Russia.

"Country house. 1877" Russia 2012 Postcard, from the Colnect catalog

The oldest postcard added this year is from 1900 from Portugal, "Coimbra-Santa Clara, View". 135 Postcards issued in 2016 have been added to the catalog as well, from 9 different countries.

"Geirangerfjord and 'Seven Sisters' waterfall" Norway Postcard, from the Colnect catalog

Want to help add more Postcards to the catalog? Please see our Postcards Catalog Contribution Guidelines. You can also read more details on contribution to Colnect on the Contributor Guide.

"Summer Palace. Seventeen-arch Bridge" China Postcard, from the Colnect catalog

66,666 Postcards on Colnect!

Is '666' considered a devilish number in your country? Today we're putting all our stereotypical thinking away to commemorate a nice milestone we've recently reached - 66,666 Postcards!

The Postcards catalog has been present on Colnect for roughly 6 years, so that's a lot of 6-s for one day, which is also the 6th of January of 2016! How crazy is that?

"Tokyo Station", from the Colnect catalog

First off, we are sending a huge thank-you to the category co-coordinators, Vadym Sulimenko [Dravec] and Grzegorz Pająk [quarteris] for working hard on one of the most popular categories on Colnect! :) 

"Niue Island – Polynesia", from the Colnect catalog

Moreover, thank you to the translators that have made the postcards collecting available for 799 collectors from 70+ countries.

Another group of colnectors we are sending our regards to are editors, they have done an impressive work, keeping the category organised. 

"Tallinn. Spire of Town Hall with "Old Thomas" Weathercock", 
from the Colnect catalog

And, of course, the catalog would not be so diverse without the help of each and every one of contributors. Thank you for every postcard added onto Colnect! The Postcards catalog is currently divided into countries, authors, issuers, colorings, orientations, views, years, themes and newly added.  

 "Torshavn", from the Colnect catalog

                         

The catalog currently includes postcards from 250+ countries. Check them out! Do you have a favourite postcard from your country? By the way, the country that the most postcards are from is Soviet Union! Here's an example:  

"Baikal. Lake in Winter", from the Colnect catalog

So, to sum up, we are really thrilled to see the category growing. We encourage you to study the How Can I Contribute? page to add more postcards, to edit information or to add missing photos/data. Note that many contributors on Colnect enjoy having a free Premium Membership simply by helping the community.

"Awaiting the day's catch", from the Colnect catalog 

 Thank you for being a Colnector! Let's make an even  bigger number of postcards!

70,707 Collectors Connecting on Colnect

Less than 2 months have flown by and lo and behold, Colnect is growing faster! More than 4004 collectors have joined our community since our last 66,666 milestone post and so we have developed into a community of 70,707 happily colnecting collectors :)

Not only the community has grown, but the catalogs as well. We've had a new Kids Meal Toys category and Milk Cup Lids category joining our ranks recently. We wish the new categories, with their coordinators, editors and contributors, the best of luck.

Newly added lid on the Milk Cup Lids catalog on Colnect

Each catalog has added many new items to its pages, with the great dedicated help of the wonderful Colnect coordinators, editors and contributors. It's worth to note especially the Stamps, Gift Cards, Medals, Paper Clips, Phonecards, Postcards, Sugar Packets, Trading Card Games and Tea Bags categories. Combined they have added more than 15,000 new items to the Colnect catalogs in the last month.

Newly added toy on the Kids Meal Toys catalog on Colnect

Colnect is not just a tool and catalogs, though. Most of all it's a social network of a great vibrant community. That community showed also it could really take a joke on the last 1st of April, when "Automatic Exchange" was introduced. Many more discussions have developed on the forums in the past weeks and you are welcome to join! Go see what's on our forums now.

Newly added Stamp on the Colnect Stamps catalog

Have collectibles you'd like to add to the Colnect catalogs? Read all about how to become a contributor on the Catalog Contribution help page.

Newly added card on the Colnect Gift Card catalog

We would like to welcome all the new collectors to join Colnect and thank our wonderful community that makes Colnect what it is every day.

Newly added card on the Trading Card Game catalog on Colnect

Egypt Regained Freedom from England - February 28 - Today in History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

Egypt was born ninety years ago, today, on February 28, 1922 when Great Britain officially conceded via a unilateral declaration of Parliament that Egypt was a free country. With its independence, came an identity: this is Egypt.



The post card is often a rare window into the past, and here in Colnect's catalogs there is featured Egypt's gorgeous This is Egypt post card to highlight the ancient culture and the history surrounding their freedom from colonization.

When the British army defeated the Egyptians in 1882 at Tel El Kebir, a colony was born that would not be rescinded until a nationalist movement began an uprising and ultimately a revolution that ousted the foreign rule in 1922.

The rich culture of Egypt, once free, could share its amazing ancient pyramids, artifacts, and history of one of the world's earliest successful civilizations. The post card is tremendously realistic; the only word is "Egypt" in white, and a man rests on a camel on the desert dunes with the incredible wonders of the world: the Gaza pyramids lining the horizon at either sunset or sunrise. The colorful browns and oranges from this piece are breathtaking.

Post cards are one of the myriad treasures that are stored on Colnect for all collectors to find and enjoy.

50th Anniversary of Signing of Jamaica's Independance - February 9 - Today in History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

February 9, 2012 is fifty years to the day that the tropical island in the Bahamas where Bob Marley was born, the beautiful country of Jamaica, officially signed for its independence in 1962.



Colnect's tremendous array of collectible postcards offers up a look at the truly colorful Jamaican Sunset as celebrated by this 1990 portrait.

Throughout the late nineteen fifties, Jamaica fought to leave the colonial power of the United Kingdom and joined the Federation of the West Indies as an autonomous British island. It was not until February 9, 1962 that Jamaica would sign to remove itself from the federation and become its own independent country. It was not recognized fully until August of the same year, but February 9th was the historic date when the people signed off on their own freedom.

The Jamaica City series postcard, Jamaican Sunset, highlights the extraordinary magic that the tropical island contains with nature's blessing. In this delightful postcard, there is no city to be found, only tall palm trees and green, red, orange, yellow, purple and black colors vividly photographed. Once freedom emerged for the island, the opportunity for the growth of reggae and the singer, innovator, and peaceful prophet Bob Marley became possible. The island's music would echoes the beaches, the slender trees, and the surreal sunset.

This postcard seems to capture the very essence of the heart of Jamaica, and this is one of many examples of Colnect's rare collectibles being both historic and incredibly poignant in their representations.

30,003 Collectors Colnecting and Climbing!

The numbers are in, and the rapidly expanding archives at Colnect can now thank over
30,003 collectors for their contributions to the exciting site about all things collecting!



Though the world is filled with conscientious historians and just plain old fun loving collectors, there have been few outlets to bring together these people with similar interests. It is true that many purchase and sell their rare artifacts on various sites, but the digital auction house lacks the innovation that Colnect works hard to perfect: the connection.

Colnect has hundreds of thousands of stamps and other beautiful collectibles on a database that automatically translates languages from across the earth and allows people to exchange information about and trade their collections. There are often links to the items that can be found on eBay as well.

30,003 is a landmark number (as Colnect had 10,000 members in March of 2010), because you, the fans of collecting, have gathered here at Colnect to meet and expand the vast online catalog of collectible treasures in order to help each other to further enjoy the thrill of collecting. As you continue to upload the prestigious post cards, tea bags, beer coasters, coins, and more onto Colnect, a world-wide treasure map is being composed for all of its inhabitants to see and enjoy. It is also the people who help to make the catalogs better that deserve to take a bow. Thank you!

Postcard Recalls the First British Parliament Meeting of January 20 - Today in History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

On January 20, 1265, the very first Parliament met in England's tremendous Palace of Westminster, as the people of the nation began to vie with the monarch for representation. The eighth Earl of Leicester, Simon de Montfort, called a meeting labeled "Parliament" to negotiate peace terms with the king, Henry III, who had lost a war to Montfort.



Colnect and its many collectors harbor many treasures of history in its vaults of iconic collectibles, and the gorgeous British post card of Parliament Square is no exception.

This iconic date, January twentieth, is seen as the first mention of the word "Parliament" and also the first semblance of what would become the modern government House of Parliament, as there were representatives from each county and burgesses from the cities and towns.

The postcard captures the amazing architecture of the buildings making up the Palace of Westminster - that are now also known as the Houses of Parliament or the Parliament building - that were to become home to Parliament from this date in 1265 up to the present day.

Note the unique and regal buttresses and the great tower featuring the Big Ben clock that was added on in the nineteenth century. The rich color and detail of the photograph that is used really emanates warmth and the glory of the locale in London.

There are myriad postcards featured on Colnect's vast catalog, and this is a prime example of a rare beauty that can culminate history, tourism, politics, and artwork in one special item.

January 13 Marks Simon Bolivar as El Libertador - Today in History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

Latin America's chief liberator, Simon Bolivar, successfully administered political and military leadership in order to free the nations that would become Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama from the rule of the Spanish Empire by January of 1825, and the beautiful depiction of El Libertador's legend is immortalized on the Angel Zeballos Simon Bolivar postcard.



Colnect's vast array of collectibles features this gorgeous Venezuelan postcard that reproduces the artist Angel Zeballos's famous portrait of Simon Bolivar. He is often shown with the sword, as he fought alongside soldiers in Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela against the Spaniards on his way to uniting the region, albeit for a short time, in the Pan-American Republic of Colombia.

The actual man was not just a military strategist, but also a fierce politician who used his intellect and belief to instill democratic ideologies and free the heart of Latin America from the colonial power of Spain, which is why he is also depicted in the postcard's portrait as writing at a desk.



Bolivar's letters are widely considered to be insights into his thoughts of republican values, including the "Carta de Jamaica" letter, and his adept use of the Spanish language marked him as a military hero that was also a learned man of education.

Though the united region of the Republic of Colombia disintegrated after Bolivar's resignation of the presidency on January 29, 1830, the legacy of El Libertador who instilled Latin American pride and freedom in the people of the Americas is a highly regarded one to this day. This postcard is one of numerous highlights that grace the Colnect Catalogs.

Colnect's Hotel Key Cards Catalog Now Exceeds 2,000 Items

Colnect's catalog of Hotel Key Cards, one of our newest categories, has been growing at a tremendous pace since its launch and has now eclipsed the 2,000 item milestone! Although expectations were high following our most recent category additions, even the most optimistic collectors would probably not have expected such impressive progress over so short a time. This great news means hotel key card collectors will have much greater selection in choosing items for their wish list and in finding suitable swap partners, as larger catalogs make collection management and setting up exchanges even easier on Colnect. "I am pleasantly surprised by the rapid development of our new categories," Colnect founder Amir Wald remarked. "Our long-term goal is to be able to break into every hotel room," Wald quipped. Right now, 75 countries are represented in our hotel key cards catalog, with the largest being Spain, followed closely by the US while Mexico trails further behind.

Colnect's catalogs operate under wiki-like principles, meaning trusted collectors can add their own personal collections onto the site and make any necessary changes or updates. We would like to thank our hotel key cards co-ordinator, Ignacio F Lopez Vico [iflvico], for making these significant improvements possible. In addition, we would like to recognize the following nine contributors, whose collaborative efforts have brought the hotel key cards catalog to its current state: FELIX, Juan, cuevas, motikr, bruun01, minos, fquimbo, Trudyh, and Dijor.

Feel free to contact us if you want to help add items from your personal collection into one of our catalogs or have any new category suggestions.

Postcards - Colnect's Latest Addition

We are happy to announce the launch of yet another category to Colnect's catalogs: postcards. This addition offers our collectors an even wider variety of collectibles to choose from in managing their collections and finding others around the globe to exchange with. It also closely follows last week's expansion into bank cards, hotel key cards, and transportation tickets.



The postcards catalog, which presently features a couple hundred items from France and Germany, was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Paul Giba [CarnivorousVulgaris] . Feel free to check it out if you or someone you know collects postcards!

As always, Colnect is grateful for the continued support of all its volunteer collectors who make these catalog improvements a reality.

If you're an avid collector in one of these new categories, any assistance you could provide to help expand the catalogs would be most appreciated. We also welcome any suggestions you may have for future collectible categories to be added!


Colnect has the world's biggest phone card catalog, with over 200,000 currently being displayed! Colnect also features tens of thousands of items in our stamp catalog, coin catalog, bank note catalog, and bottle cap catalog. In addition, our newly-created tea bag catalog is growing rapidly and now has nearly 2,000 items from 43 countries displayed.