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Some do it out of loyalty to their team, town, or country, others might be driven by the prestige that comes with ownership; either way, people like to collect. And the fields they're interested in can be interesting, to say the least.

So in order to show you just how cool, strange, and even creepy this hobby can be, we at Bored Panda put together a list of the most unique collections we could find on the internet. From pharmacy pills to exit signs, and beyond, continue scrolling to check out the stashes.

#1

My Hand-Painted Food Rocks

My Hand-Painted Food Rocks

thejuniper Report

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#2

I Got Sober During Covid, So All Of My AA Meetings Have Been By Zoom. My Chips Are Mostly A Random Collection Of Round Objects I’ve Found On My Daily Walks. I Just Celebrated 7 Months

I Got Sober During Covid, So All Of My AA Meetings Have Been By Zoom. My Chips Are Mostly A Random Collection Of Round Objects I’ve Found On My Daily Walks. I Just Celebrated 7 Months

vgeno24 Report

Dr. Andrew Dillon, who is a V.M. Daniel Regents Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, says that once humans gathered more resources than they immediately needed, they were able to break out of the continual hunting mode and start to trade.

Combined with our abilities to plan and count, collecting emerges as a natural disposition that is subject to the influencing forces of economics, social structures, education, fashion, and personal history.

"In treating collecting as routine, we can view the range of collecting behaviors as expressions which might vary across layers but reflect the shared basis of human motivations underlying our emotions, identity, value, and desire for connection," Dillon explains.

#3

Authentic Geological Map Of Scotland

Authentic Geological Map Of Scotland

Jefferies_ Report

#4

I Spent 4 Years Trying To Grow Salt Cubes At Home. Here Are The Largest And Most Transparent Crystals I've Managed To Grow So Far

I Spent 4 Years Trying To Grow Salt Cubes At Home. Here Are The Largest And Most Transparent Crystals I've Managed To Grow So Far

crystalchase21 Report

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#5

I’m Painting A Collection Of Memes. Here’s The Progress So Far

I’m Painting A Collection Of Memes. Here’s The Progress So Far

travischapmanart Report

While collecting might be an innate tendency, Dillon believes it's culturally and environmentally shaped. "Nomadic peoples were limited to items that were transferable or storable, but a surplus of food and materials of importance suggests that even from earliest times, people collected," he says.

"Changes in the means of production altered patterns of consumption, and the spoils of conflict and resource control exercised through power created a distinct type of collecting for desirable goods, giving us era-specific records of what was deemed important or valuable to different cultures even before the emergence of museums and galleries."

#6

This Man’s Collection Of Lost Apple Varieties

This Man’s Collection Of Lost Apple Varieties

cottagecore Report

#7

After Years Of Collecting, Problems With Arcade Bylaws, And A Pandemic, I've Finally Quit My Career In It And Opened A Pinball Arcade

After Years Of Collecting, Problems With Arcade Bylaws, And A Pandemic, I've Finally Quit My Career In It And Opened A Pinball Arcade

imvii Report

#8

January Sea Glass Haul. I May Have A Problem

January Sea Glass Haul. I May Have A Problem

DangPlants Report

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#9

My Father-In-Law Just Moved To A New House. His Record Collection Required Its Own Move And Two Trucks

My Father-In-Law Just Moved To A New House. His Record Collection Required Its Own Move And Two Trucks

reddit.com Report

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In more recent times, the cabinet of curiosities emerges around the discovery of the Americas and the expansion of people's understanding of place and space, tying collecting to self-presentation of worldliness and forward-thinking.

The Industrial Revolution led to the emergence of a consumer class that sought goods previously unavailable to them (and created a wealthy class that bought items to reflect their emerging status, sending their offspring on grand tours to polish their education and obtain all sorts of historical artifacts to embellish the family’s legacy).

This rising middle class, in turn, engaged in this most human behavior of acquiring and keeping objects of desire to the point where phrases like "Everyone is a collector" were also born.

#10

My Coleus Collection

My Coleus Collection

xSeko Report

#11

Helped My Mom Unpack Her Uranium Glass Collection And Install UV Lights

Helped My Mom Unpack Her Uranium Glass Collection And Install UV Lights

kazz9201 Report

#12

My Collection Of LEGO Pokémon I've Built

My Collection Of LEGO Pokémon I've Built

Ddave_ Report

#13

Tools Of My Trade (Hand Embroidery) Turned Into A Small Collection

Tools Of My Trade (Hand Embroidery) Turned Into A Small Collection

reddit.com Report

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However, as collecting is increasingly recognized as widespread, Dillon says we still have little data on people's motivations, their reasons, and self-explanations for their hobby.

"Individual case studies or small sample surveys provide some insights, but most of the research is suggestive and leans to inference from market activity," he explains.

"[But] it is sometimes assumed that the primary motivation for investing in artworks or antiques is financial, the belief that such works, by nature of their rarity, represent a distinctive form of investment."

#14

My Wall Mounted Rotary Phone Collection

My Wall Mounted Rotary Phone Collection

radiumgirlglows Report

#15

My 9-Year-Old Nephew Has Found Over 1500 "Lucky" Four-Leaf Clovers And Keeps Them In A Big Binder

My 9-Year-Old Nephew Has Found Over 1500 "Lucky" Four-Leaf Clovers And Keeps Them In A Big Binder

The_Littlest_Teapot Report

#16

A Collection Of Little Monster Toys I've Made

A Collection Of Little Monster Toys I've Made

loveandasandwich Report

#17

"What We Find In Your Tires"

"What We Find In Your Tires"

recovery_room Report

There is, of course, a monetary consideration in major purchasing decisions, but financial returns might be a primary motivation for only a minority or niche group of collectors.

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Depending on which study you look at, there's some evidence that the share of collectors who are in for an investment or possible profit can be lower than 10%

#18

Rooftop Next To A Schoolyard

Rooftop Next To A Schoolyard

rosseepoo Report

#19

What An Impressive Tie Collection He Must Have Had

What An Impressive Tie Collection He Must Have Had

JayElHarris Report

#20

My Grandpa’s Vintage Prank Toy Collection

My Grandpa’s Vintage Prank Toy Collection

heartsholly Report

#21

Years Ago I Told My Mom That I Liked To Collect Coins. Unfortunately, She Passed Recently, And Upon Cleaning Her House, I Found This

Years Ago I Told My Mom That I Liked To Collect Coins. Unfortunately, She Passed Recently, And Upon Cleaning Her House, I Found This

Cardi-B1998 Report

On the other hand, Dillon says there are innumerable accounts and case studies of individual collectors that explain these people’s actions by appealing to their emotional experiences, insatiable appetites for security, and even erotic ties to material objects, typically rooted in their unsettling earliest life experiences.

#22

My Multilingual Calvin & Hobbes Collection

My Multilingual Calvin & Hobbes Collection

kalvinoz Report

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#23

Over The Years, I’ve Collected Other People’s Collections That Have Been Thrown Away. Anything People Collect Will Be In These Boxes, Including The Boxes And Drawers

Over The Years, I’ve Collected Other People’s Collections That Have Been Thrown Away. Anything People Collect Will Be In These Boxes, Including The Boxes And Drawers

I worked in a rubbish dump for 15 years. 

Daverose68 Report

#24

My Grandpa Kept Almost All Of The Rabies Tags From His Dogs

My Grandpa Kept Almost All Of The Rabies Tags From His Dogs

yyuucckkyy Report

#25

My Collection Showing The Evolution Of Portable Data Storage Over The Past 45 Years

My Collection Showing The Evolution Of Portable Data Storage Over The Past 45 Years

SN74HC04 Report

"A more contemporary view of people’s relationships to material objects comes from social and cultural studies of consumption by the general public," he explains. "Looking beyond the business analysis of what we buy, some researchers have asked why we buy and how do we treat or use the objects we accumulate over time? In studying these phenomena, people are often conceived as continual consumers on a scale, with collectors at one end and disposers at the other."

"In this paradigm, an individual’s choice of goods is conceived as a reflection of their identity or their desire to be seen by others as part of a group, with their consumption and retention patterns representing a form of expression that signals particular lifestyle values and choices."

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#26

My Dad's Banjo Collection

My Dad's Banjo Collection

sadieperson Report

#27

Some People Collect Stamps, Others Collect Fancy Cars. I Collect Thrift Store Ski Jackets. Here Are Some Of My Favorite Finds

Some People Collect Stamps, Others Collect Fancy Cars. I Collect Thrift Store Ski Jackets. Here Are Some Of My Favorite Finds

PM_ME_YOUR_HARIBO Report

#28

Abandoned Collection Of Over 175 Classic Cars In North London

Abandoned Collection Of Over 175 Classic Cars In North London

londonbarnfinds , tfjj Report

#29

Anyone Here Collects Vintage Monster Masks? Here Is A Small Bit Of My Collection

Anyone Here Collects Vintage Monster Masks? Here Is A Small Bit Of My Collection

Horrorhound_88 Report

Clearly, there is a strong relationship between human psychology and the desire to collect, one that mediates personal identity, a sense of place in the world, and a desire to form networks and build community.

To explore these ties further, fire up our older publications 50 People Share Their Unique Collections and 50 Of The Most Interesting And Unusual Collections People Have.

#30

This Car Is Full Of Bumper Stickers That Say Bumper Sticker

This Car Is Full Of Bumper Stickers That Say Bumper Sticker

getyoutogabba Report

#31

My Dad Passed Away Last Year, And I Was Finally Able To Gather All Of This And Make This Tribute To His 37-Year Career At Kmart

My Dad Passed Away Last Year, And I Was Finally Able To Gather All Of This And Make This Tribute To His 37-Year Career At Kmart

LordIronVader Report

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#32

This Collection Of Rubber Ducks

This Collection Of Rubber Ducks

Hoody2shoes Report

#33

My Wife Has Diligently Kept A Journal Everyday Since 2000

My Wife Has Diligently Kept A Journal Everyday Since 2000

FuktOff666 Report

#34

My Collection So Far

My Collection So Far

clure04 Report

#35

Fake IDs Confiscated In A College Town

Fake IDs Confiscated In A College Town

brizzboog Report

#36

These Tiny Shells, Each Labeled With Type, Date Collected And Where. Part Of A Massive Multigenerational Shell Collection I’m Sorting Through

These Tiny Shells, Each Labeled With Type, Date Collected And Where. Part Of A Massive Multigenerational Shell Collection I’m Sorting Through

EmbarassedGiraffe Report

#37

My Local Pharmacy Has This Huge Container Of Random Pills

My Local Pharmacy Has This Huge Container Of Random Pills

MichaelTheMage Report

#38

Yes, You Can Collect Antique Traffic Signals. My Oldest Dates Back To The Mid-1920s

Yes, You Can Collect Antique Traffic Signals. My Oldest Dates Back To The Mid-1920s

trophyguy Report

#39

In The Year 2000, Aged 13, I Was Immensely Proud Of My Simpsons Collection

In The Year 2000, Aged 13, I Was Immensely Proud Of My Simpsons Collection

chestertravis Report

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#40

These Layers Are The Seeds I Collected Last Year. They Show A Timeline Of When Different Flowers Grow In My Garden

These Layers Are The Seeds I Collected Last Year. They Show A Timeline Of When Different Flowers Grow In My Garden

Grommulox Report

#41

My Entire Plant Pin Collection To Date

My Entire Plant Pin Collection To Date

jickii Report

#42

All The Whiskers That I've Collected Over The Years From My Two Cats That Either Broke Off Or Naturally Fell Out

All The Whiskers That I've Collected Over The Years From My Two Cats That Either Broke Off Or Naturally Fell Out

Wide_Environment3107 Report

#43

56 Mirrors And Counting. About 2 Years Worth Of Thrifting

56 Mirrors And Counting. About 2 Years Worth Of Thrifting

JacobInHisRoom Report

#44

My Collection Of Old Snake Bite Kits

My Collection Of Old Snake Bite Kits

gonzofist89 Report

#45

My Collection Of (Mostly) Vintage Uranium Glass

My Collection Of (Mostly) Vintage Uranium Glass

bigstupidheadloser Report

#46

This Collection Of Glass Eyeballs At The Deutsches Museum, Munich

This Collection Of Glass Eyeballs At The Deutsches Museum, Munich

Saturn624 Report

#47

All These Hair Ties Underneath A Rollercoaster

All These Hair Ties Underneath A Rollercoaster

Aquarithyst Report

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#48

It Just Makes Me Happy To See Things That Are Kind Of "Proof" That I Have Lived, Even If It's Something As Silly And Seemingly Insignificant As Tea Stubs

It Just Makes Me Happy To See Things That Are Kind Of "Proof" That I Have Lived, Even If It's Something As Silly And Seemingly Insignificant As Tea Stubs

aelleqiko Report

#49

These Are Most Of The Exit And Fire Safety Signs I Collected Over The Past 2 Years

These Are Most Of The Exit And Fire Safety Signs I Collected Over The Past 2 Years

Trizocbs Report

#50

The Amount Of Lost Earbuds My Boyfriend Found Today On One Commercial Plane

The Amount Of Lost Earbuds My Boyfriend Found Today On One Commercial Plane

sachemo Report

Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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