Stamps and comics can evoke emotional reaction, students say

Hockey cards can evoke good memories, collectors say. Photo by Colton De Gooyer

BY COLTON DE GOOYER
IN FOCUS REPORTER

One person’s trash is another’s treasure.
For second-year computer programming student, Josiah Keeshig, 21, that treasure is a pair of broken glasses he still has from when he was in public school.
“I’ve kept them for I don’t know what reason other than it’s a reminder of who I was back then,” he said. “I look back at myself then and compare who I am now, with who that child was.
“I can see a definite quantification of how I’ve changed.”
“It’s important to collect things because once you’ve held onto something for so long, you’ve formed a bond with that item. You have memories relating to that item and it’s hard to throw away something important to you and the memories make that even more difficult,” Keeshig said.
John Talman is the owner of John H. Talman Ltd., which sells collectables such as coins, stamps, paper money and even old menus.
“Stamps are works of art,” said Talman.
Talman said that for a lot of people, collecting is about getting into something they enjoy.
“Once people get into a collection, they want to complete it as much as they can,” he said.
Keeshig said people take pride and accomplishment in collecting a certain set of items and collecting contributes to their sense of identity.
“I know for others it’s a compulsion.” He said, for other people, the act of collecting is important because the pieces are interesting.
“I suppose for them it’s a hobby. It’s something to pass the time, something to keep themselves occupied with because as they say, ‘idle hands are the devils play thing’.”
Mark Bell, owner of Comic World at Bramalea City Centre, said groups of people get together to talk about their stuff over the Internet, as well as in person at conventions.
“There are comic shows two to three times a year, where fans get to meet the artist and talk to other fans about their collections,” said Bell.
Bell, who used to be a collector himself, said he imagines there is a sense of fulfilment when someone collects an entire set.
This is true for Talman, who takes his collection very seriously.
“Stamps are not a matter of life and death, they are more important than that.”