The transitory fragments of yesterday, that which we call “ephemera”, once existed in nature as solid elements. Plants, trees and grasses became pulp and pulp became paper. Ephemera may survive thousands of years but its essence, its composition, the fragile elements of paper and ink, can dissipate as quickly as a rainbow. Fire and water, the base elements of earth, destroy and devastate ephemera quickly and completely. This is increasingly evident as today when hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast (US) and tsunami’s wash away entire cultures.
Looking at a simple document, a piece of “daily life” as simple as a deed written in 1789, brings a sense of awe to the observer. How could it survive, that fragile form? Who held it? Who wrote it? The postcard sent from France in 1946? On the back, your father, a soldier in World War II, tells your mother of his everlasting love for her. It is your family’s story. It is the story of every man.
A love of history. An appreciation of a certain event, a moment in time, or a cultural phenomenon -- the ticket stubs, the postcards, the advertising brochures, the hotel room receipts -- this is the ephemera of lives now and then.
Ephemera. Autographs, photos, books, ticket stubs, calendars, programs, record album covers, Christmas cards, birthday cards... it is safe to assume these items will become more precious in time because of the truly transitory nature of email and technological communication through cell phone text messages and personal digital assistants. Digital photography produces no negatives and compact disks and DVDs are as transitory as paper, easily destroyed. Paper is accessed easily without the technological programming, the software, required for viewing emails and digital photos or documents. What happens when the software or the device on which it is used becomes obsolete? Paper remains constant, even though language changes. Odd, isn’t it, that technology may be the downfall of our communal historical record?
Ephemera collections vary widely. Many collectors seek specific items. Real photograph post cards versus linen post cards. Elvis ephemera, the Beatles, Glenn Miller... cultural iconography, military ephemera, baseball cards, books... any attempt to create a list of categories would be frivolous due to the seemingly endless taxonomy of collections. Stamps, comic books, genealogical research -- one must also consider collections by subject, by year, by make, by size or type.
The thrill of the chase, of searching through piles of dusty documents and finding that one piece, became more egalitarian and available with the introduction of the internet and online auctions. The virtual chase requires skill. Some laugh and refer to the chase as “the documentation of documents”. Large lots of ephemera can sometimes be purchased online, old paper sold by the pound. Often collectors begin with such lots and over time, begin to narrow their search for specific items. Speculators purchase large lots of ephemera, hoping to sell a few items from the lot to finance their quest for more ephemera and keeping the desired ephemera for their personal collections.
Navigating through online auctions is a confusing process. Niche sites can help the ephemera collector narrow their search while also opening the doors to new and exciting ephemeral ideas. Many experts believe that, after the initial phase of collecting, people naturally gravitate toward a distinctive type of ephemera. Experts argue about whether collections should be for investment purposes or for enjoyment. What is your reason for accumulating ephemera?
If ephemera is transitory and not intended to last, why therefore is there a society to preserve it?
Ahhhh... because the preservation of paper items now takes on a new dimension. The diminished use of paper in personal communications. We are even told to send eCards for Christmas or Valentine's Day because it will save our planet. Huh? Regardless of any conversation, discussion, or reasoning -- collecting old pieces of paper is a joyous hobby. Creating 3-D assemblage art from ephemera is my passion.
Peruse and enjoy. Perhaps you too will begin to embrace the fascination of ephemera.
Paper -- Fleeting, transitory, and perhaps doomed?