The Collectables category features a varied selection of collectable objects ranging from the history of technology and popular culture to nostalgia and everyday life. Everything from musical instruments, nautical items, pens and movie memorabilia to advertising signs are on display.
Many of the items have a special collector's value due to their age, manufacturer, limited edition or context. Classic brands such as Hornby, Montblanc and Nikon are featured, as are shop signs, scout badges and vintage posters.
Collecting has a rich tradition stretching back centuries. As early as the 17th and 18th centuries, wealthy Europeans began to create 'cabinets of curiosities'; collections that often included scientific instruments, exotic animal parts, minerals, religious relics and works of art. These cabinets were the forerunners of today's museums and played a significant role in the development of science and art in Europe.