Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Bank Card catalog is growing quickly - 2,468+ cards

In August we announced that the Bank Card catalog had reached 1,001 cards. We are now delighted to report that the Bank Card catalog has more than doubled since then and it has now already surpassed 2,468 cards and it continues to grow!

The hobby of Bank Card collecting includes the collection of the following bank affiliated cards: ATM cards, Credit cards and Debit cards.  These cards are all of a similar size, made out of plastic, and they are embedded with either a magnetic strip or a chip within the card. In addition to bearing the name and logo of the Bank Provider, they are adorned with a variety of striking images, which makes these cards sought after by collectors.  These images range form abstract art to themes of landmarks, landscapes, people, sports, flora and fauna as well as other promotional related subjects.



We are grateful to Hendy Florez, our bank cards database coordinator, who is responsible for the continued success of this category.  We also acknowledge and thank everyone who has contributed in any way by sharing items from their collection and adding them to our database.

Colnect has the largest online catalog of Bank Cards and with your help and support this can grow even bigger and better.  In this modern era almost each and every one of us is in possession of one type of Bank Card or another.  So, next time your Bank Card expires, think twice before you discard it.  At least make an effort to contribute details and images of it to our catalog or consider starting a collection of your own.

Start connecting with other bank card collectors from all over the world now and show off the cards that you already have in your wallet.
You can “bank on it” that you will have a lot of fun. . .
Happy collecting :)

Monday, January 17, 2011

Beer Coasters / Beer Mats - Colnect's Collectors New Addition

Colnect is expanding and reaching out to more collectors and we are pleased to announce that we have now added a new category of collectibles to our portfolio: Beer Coasters / Beer Mats

A coaster or beer mat is an absorptive mat on which to rest a glass of beer or other beverage upon.
Coasters are made from high density paperboard (cardboard) or several layers of tissue paper.  Beer mats are identified by their water absorbency and printability and standard coasters are usually square or round, but other shapes do exist.

In 1880, the first beer mats, made of thick paper pulp, were introduced by a German printing company as use to cover an open brew to ward off insects.  They have now become one of the best ways you can protect your furniture and bar counter from stains caused by liquid that accumulates on the bottom of a glass.

Beer mats are usually adorned with customized images - advertising a brand of beer, although they can also be used for promotional purposes to advertise anything from a drinking establishment, sports franchise, businesses or other special events.



Coasters are collected in a variety of ways. You can collect them according to theme, brewery, state, region, country, or simply collect everything.

The practice of collecting coasters or beer mats is known as tegestology and coaster or beer mat collectors are known as tegestologists.

Mirel Sinanaj [albcoins] has taken on the responsibility as coordinator of our new Beer Coasters / Beer Mats category.

So next time you are at the pub make sure to keep the beer coaster as a souvenir to add to your new collection or to use it to exchange for another collectible item.

Let’s make a special toast to Colnect's newly baptized Beer Coasters / Beer Mats category: “Cheers . . .!!!”

Happy collecting :)

Friday, January 14, 2011

18,888 Collectors Collect and Connect with Colnect

The New Year has welcomed us with the exciting news that the Colnect community is continuing to grow rapidly.  Just over a month and a half ago we announced that we have 17,171 collectors on Colnect.  The holidays and festive season ensured a surge in new collectors visiting Colnect and today we are proud to announce that we now have 18,888 Collectors who are Collecting and Connecting on COLNECT.  That is a remarkable addition of 1,717 new collectors in just over a month!



18,888 COLLECTORS COLLECT AND CONNECT WITH COLNECT!
By reaching this milestone it is evident that more and more people are being hit by the “collector bug” and they are all joining in on the fun at Colnect.  We welcome our new additions to the Colnect family and we wish you all an enjoyable journey collecting and connecting with our global community on Colnect.

With a continuously growing membership base it is guaranteed that there are a larger number of collectibles available for trade and just as our numbers of collectors is increasing, so are our catalogs of collectibles growing in size.  No doubt that there’s something for everyone!

It is with our deepest gratitude that we acknowledge each and every one of you who has supported and contributed to our community in any way and who continues to ensure that we are able to offer the best service available to everyone.

If you have not yet joined in on the fun and become a member, don’t delay any further – joining Colnect is free.  Click here to sign-up today!

We also challenge and urge all our collectors to invite and recruit more collector friends to join Colnect. It’s all about sharing the experience and expanding the Colnect community.

May your collection grow during 2011 and may you meet many new collector friends while having fun on Colnect. . .

Happy collecting :)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Happy New Premium Year!!!


For the first time in the history of Colnect, premium services will be open to ALL MEMBERS during the next 7 days!
You can now enjoy Quick Mark and Custom Personal Lists throughout the week.

SPECIAL FOR PAYING PREMIUM MEMBERS:
During this week you can choose another Colnect member who will receive free premium membership for the month of January 2011.
Write to us now on this post and let us know who is your lucky selected member with whom you wish to share this service.

Enjoy the Premium Services!!!


May your collection grow during 2011 and may you meet many new collector friends. . .



Happy collecting :)





Thursday, December 16, 2010

17 December - THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FLEW THE FIRST PLANE - 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.

17 DECEMBER 1903: THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FLEW THE FIRST PLANE
The Wright brothers, Orville (b. 19.8.1871 - 31.1.1948) and Wilbur (16.4.1867 – 30.5.1912), were two Americans who invented and built the world’s first successful self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft and they made the first flight with it on 17th December 1903.

The petrol-powered, propeller driven biplane stayed airborne for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight and it was piloted by Orville.
Orville and Wilbur Wright gained their mechanical skills required for their success by working in their shop with printing presses, bicycles, motors, and other machinery. From 1900 until their first powered flights in late 1903, they conducted extensive glider tests that also developed their skills as pilots.
The Wright brothers were also the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible. Their invention of three-axis control, which enabled the pilot to steer the aircraft effectively and to maintain its equilibrium was a fundamental breakthrough in flight. This method became standard and remains standard on fixed-wing aircrafts of all kinds.

From the beginning of their aeronautical work, the Wright brothers focused on unlocking the secrets of control to conquer "the flying problem", rather than developing more powerful engines as some other experimenters did. Their careful wind tunnel tests produced better aeronautical data than any before, enabling them to design and build wings and propellers more effective than had ever been done.
In 1909, the U.S. Army's Signal Corps purchased a specially constructed plane, and the brothers founded the Wright Company to build and market their aircraft.

Wilbur Wright died in 1912 of typhoid fever while Orville lived until 1948.
The historic Wright brothers' aircraft of 1903 is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Collectibles on Colnect that Commemmorate This Day in History:

➢ PHONECARDS:
These are a few of the phonecards issued by different countries to commemorate the historic first flight by the Wright brothers:
          

➢ STAMPS:
Several countries released stamps to commemorate and celebrate the Wright brothers' great achievement:



HAPPY COLLECTING!!! :)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Free Banknote Catalog to Top 20,202 Banknotes

Good news Colnectors! Our banknote catalog now displays more than 20,202 banknotes. Over 2,000 new banknotes were added to the banknote catalog since we last announced 18,181 banknotes last September. Again, we would like to cite and recognize the work rendered by our banknote catalog coordinator, Vidami Istvan [mozistv].



20,002 BANKNOTES TO CHOOSE FROM!


Looking for the banknotes you're wanting to have? Check the newest banknotes in the banknote catalog. Another set of new banknotes have been added since September; hence, this means that a lot of collectibles were added to the selection. See for yourself what you missed. Let your friends know about this wonderful news.

With our easy sign-up process, you can invite your friends to join Colnect. Share your experience on Colnect and impart to them the benefits of joining our community. If you are a banknote collector and haven't joined Colnect, then give it a try. Swapping is fun and watching your banknote collection grow is priceless.

Happy collecting! :)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

15 December - THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA REOPENED - 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.

15 DECEMBER 2001 : THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA REOPENED
On this day in 2001, one of Italy's most famous tourist attractions,  the Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened after undergoing 11 years of stabilization work that cost $27 million to strengthen the tower that was facing possible collapse.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is also known as "leaning down of southern halt" (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) or simply the Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa).

The tower was closed to the public on January 7, 1990 to commence the stabilization operation. Cables that were cinched around the tower were used to anchor it while the bells were removed to relieve some weight. Apartments and houses in proximity to the tower were also vacated for safety.  The tower was then straightened slightly to a safer angle in order to prevent the collapse of the tower.

An initial attempt in 1994 almost toppled the tower, but engineers were eventually able to reduce the lean by 18 inches by removing earth from underneath the foundation. This was achieved by removing 38 cubic metres (50 cu yd) of earth from underneath the raised end. After a decade of corrective reconstruction and stabilization efforts, the tower was reopened to the public on December 15, 2001, and was declared stable for at least another 300 years.

Entrance to the tower is now limited to guided tours, but this has not stopped tourists from flocking to the famous tower to pose next to it for photos while pretending to hold it up!

Collectibles on Colnect that Commemmorate This Day in History:

➢ COINS:
Italy produced this 500 Lire Coin in 1993 which depicts the Leaning Tower of Pisa:
Several countries have issued phonecards related to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. These are a few of them:

➢ STAMPS:
Italy released this stamp of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in 1973:







HAPPY COLLECTING . . .  :)

Collector Profile Improvments

It's high time we fixed our confusing profile page design. The previous concept was that a collector's own profile page is the same as others see it. So when you viewed it your own collector profile on Colnect, it looked the same as when other collectors viewed it. The biggest problem with that concept was that it's not what most people are used to on social networks today. So to make the long story short here are the important changes done to a person's own profile page.



  • Private custom lists will be displayed when you view your own collector profile page.
  • Clicking your profile picture or "Personal Page" header goes to "My Account" page where these can be changed.
  • Added "My Lists" header which will go to "My Lists" page.
  • Added "My Watchlist" to actions available under your picture. The "Send Private Message" is removed as you probably won't be sending messages to yourself ;)

Mind that others will see your collector profile page the same way they did before.

Future plans? Yes, many. Trying to put on more features and making Colnect easier to use for all your collecting needs. Your suggestions are welcome on our suggestions forum.

Happy collecting :)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

World’s Biggest Hotel Key Card Catalog for Collectors Displays 10,101+ Key Cards

Colnect is proud to announce that the Hotel Key Card Catalog has now reached the 10,101 mark! The catalog currently boasts over 10,101 Hotel Key Cards from 117 Countries featuring over 1441 Hotel Chains and the list continues to grow rapidly.

The Hotel Key Card Catalog has had an addition of over 2,000 Hotel Key Cards since we announced the 8,008 mark in September. This means that an average of over 20 new Hotel Key Cards have being added on a daily basis over the past 90 days! This is a great achievement for which we need to acknowledge and thank Ignacio F López Vico [iflvico] from Spain, who co-ordinates the Hotel Key Card Catalog. In addition, we would like to recognize all the contributors who have ensured the continued growth and success of this catalog.



You too can leave your mark on Colnect by sharing and adding items from your personal collection to showcase countries and hotels that you have visited around the globe!

So, this holiday, when you are travelling on vacation or you’re simply away on a business trip, don’t forget to keep your Hotel Key Cards as a memento of your travels and add it to your collection. Alternatively you can use it to exchange with a Hotel Key Card collector.

It doesn't matter whether you were staying at the Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Intercontinental or Taj Hotel or simply at the local Motel - all Hotel Key Cards are sought after and valuable to Hotel Key Card collectors.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Colnect's Servers Upgrade - Collectors Can Now Collect and Connect FASTER

We're very happy to announce that we've finished upgrading Colnect's servers and you will now be able to enjoy a MUCH FASTER Colnect.




For too long Colnect has been providing a rather slow service, especially when doing resource-consuming actions such as matching their personal lists with those of other collectors using our unique auto-matching feature. When many collectors were doing such actions, our former servers were getting too overloaded and the entire site started responding slowly. Hopefully, with the new servers, these days are gone.

Happy collecting :)

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Over 100,001 Collectors Visited Colnect Last Month

Colnect's getting a bit of site traffic as over 100,001 collectors paid our website a visit last month. November is definitely a busy month for our website, isn't it? This is about almost around 30% increase in web traffic since we last announced 80,000 visitors last August. We are glad about this and we're only hoping for even more in the coming months. We will be upgrading our servers in the next days to better support that last growth.

We would like to commend everyone's efforts for spreading the news and letting their friends know about Colnect. This could never be possible without your contributions. As they say, little efforts when combined can contribute a lot to a big success. With our site's easy interface, connecting to collectors is just a click away.

While you're here, let us tell you what's in store for you. There are growing amounts of collectibles in each of our free catalogs. Choose among a variety of stamps, bank notes, coins, transportation tickets, hotel key cards, bottle caps, phone cards, tea bags, and bank cards. If you made your way to our website, then you are welcomed to join our community. Joining is easy by our site integration with Facebook. Visit our main website for this easy sign-up process.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

17,171 Collectors Collect and Connect on Colnect

It wasn't that long since we announced 15,151 collectors on Colnect. As time passes by, more and more people flock on Colnect to join the community. It is such an achievement as more members join each month. Today we're so glad to announce that there are 17,171 collectors on Colnect. With this population increase in members, there is a plenty of room to grow on Colnect. We believe that more members on site, more collectibles in store for swapping or trading. There's really a reason to be merry. :)



Joining Colnect is free. With improvements each month and the integration of Facebook with Colnect, it's so much easier to register. You do not have to fill out lengthy registration forms which will require you around a couple of minutes to complete. In just a number of clicks, you can be an official member of the growing collectors community.

Invite more collectors to join. If you have friends on Facebook who love collecting, why don't you tell them about Colnect? Growing people could only mean growing items in our free catalogs. There's more! Connecting to people who are not native English speakers isn't a hassle on Colnect. With 53 languages to choose from, it's always a convenient way of connecting and collecting.

Let us all look forward to a bigger community for the months to come. Happy collecting :)

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Free Stamp Catalog Presenting 135,531+ Stamps for Collectors

It is stamp fever yet again! Today, we take pride announcing that our free stamp catalog is displaying over 135,531 stamps for our collectors. During the month of September, we just announced 121,121 stamps displayed on our catalog. In just a little span of time, we reached another milestone. This is one of the reasons that motivate us to continue giving you the best service possible.



Feel free to choose among the stamps that are listed in our catalog. Check your list and look for what you missed. With the availability of 53 languages in Colnect, you can simply and easily communicate and swap without a hassle. Take your pick among the beautiful stamps from different country origins.

Also, we would like to acknowledge everyone's work. Your contributions really count a lot. Special mention goes to our stamp coordinator Klaus Jochimsen [Lola22] who spends hours to bring about a remarkable success in the growth of stamp collectibles. Do you have friends who love collecting stamps? Spread the good news and let them know about the big collections in our stamp catalog that await them.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Coin Catalog Displays 22,222+ Coins for Coin Collectors

Good news coin collectors!

Our coin catalog currently displays over 22,222 coins for our coin collectors. This growth in coin collectibles could only mean more possibilities just for you. Our coin collectors can now enjoy larger variations at a bigger scale. Let us all hope for a fast growth for the months to come. With more collectors flocking on Colnect, more milestones wouldn't be far from reach.



GRAB THE LATEST ONES NOW!


Stuff your coin collections with more coin collectibles. Always check whatever you have and whatever you don't have. You can also try searching for the newly added coins. Make sure to get everything in your wishlist.

We would like to grab this opportunity to thank Angelo Parla [angelo13] for his endless efforts and remarkable contributions in managing our coin catalog. Our gratitude also goes to every coin collector who has contributed over time. You are always a part of every milestone that we achieve. :)

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Transportation Ticket Catalog Has More Than 2,022 Tickets

Collections on Colnect are growing fast. As people join our community, the collectibles in every catalog continues to grow. Now we are all proud to announce transportation tickets hitting 2,002 mark. All these achievements are due to the never-ending efforts given by our coordinators and of course, the support and active participation we get from our members.



The selection of transportation tickets are now boasting a decent amount on the transportation ticket catalog. With 2,022 tickets and counting, Colnect shows progressive growth on all of the catalogs. There is so much to choose from and there's a bigger opportunity of getting your most sought-after tickets on your watch list. Check the transportation ticket catalog to see the newest additions. Make sure to tell your friends about this.

This milestone will not be achieved without our transportation ticket catalog database coordinator, Gary Hoff [gazzaoz]. Upon his endless efforts, we are able to reach new heights and bigger amount of tickets. From a small start of hundreds, we are able to come up with thousands. Each transportation ticket comes with interesting unique design and origin.

If you haven't joined Colnect, then it's time for you to try and experience how Colnect can aid you with your collections management. If you are already a member, help your collector pals know about Colnect.

fb_xd_fragment Bug Workaround

This post isn't meant for collectors on Colnect but is rather a technical post regarding Facebook integrations with a website.

Facebook "Like" button gets broken on IE when using the new Facebook API?
Your server gets weird requests with fb_xd_fragment in the URL?

This is a Facebook bug with the following quick solution:

1/ Change your FB.init to the following

FB.init({appId: appId, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true, channelUrl: 'http://example.com/channel.html'});
// ^ channel URL above used to workaround fb_xd_fragment bug


2/ Create the static file for http://example.com/channel.html with the following content:
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js"></script>


IMPORTANT NOTE: ensure channel.html has proper expiry headers sent, otherwise it might slow down user experience and overload your server.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

4,444 Gift Cards on Free Catalog for Collectors by Collectors

Time flies fast and so our collectibles in our catalogs. We're proud to announce that we now have passed 4,444 gift cards on our gift card catalog. This is more than a hundred percent estimated increase in gift cards this month since we last announced it in July boasting 2,222. We would like to thank the commendable work of our gift card catalog coordinator Claude Martin [Claude] who has exerted extensive efforts of managing the catalog over the past few months.



As you may have noticed, the collectibles in store for you are growing. Grab your wish list and have your pick among the gift cards and get those that you wish to have on our free catalog. Check the new ones being added on the gift card catalog. You never know what you are missing unless you check the latest additions.

Tell everyone about this. Share this good news to your friends and let them know the wonderful experience you have with Colnect, your first stop for collecting needs. :)

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