Eclipse Ephemera

ephemera : paper items (as posters, stamps, envelopes) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles

It wouldn’t be a proper eclipse without a souvenir and so most of us have a selection of collectibles and memory starters to rekindle a past adventure in some exotic locale. Eclipse first-day covers are a long-standing souvenir item, and eclipse cachets (a printed or stamped design or inscription on an envelope, postcard, or postal card to commemorate an event) have an even longer history, dating back into the 1800s. T-shirts are almost de rigueur, as local entrepreneurs usually have a generous selection of designs to commemorate the passage of the lunar shadow.

Posters are a great touch, but not much collected because of their bulk and delicacy, but a determined collection can be made with a little effort.

I’ve put together a sample of the material I’ve been collecting for the past 3 or 4 decades. Some fond history lies in these souvenirs.

Jay Anderson
eclipsophile.com