Meurthe-et-Moselle. “Collecting is a field in decline.”

While nearly 40% of French people collect some type of object, the Lorraine Association for Original Collections (ALCO) admits it has never had so few members. A slight economic downturn? More of an underlying trend, according to the association.

Every year, ALCO (Association Lorraine pour la Collection Originale) organizes a collectors' fair at the Gentilly village hall. Photo Séverine Kichenbrand

There are those who are capable of scouring the halls to find a set of rare stamps. Those who would be willing to pay hundreds of euros for a rare record by their favorite singer. Those who are looking for military medals from as many countries as possible. Or those who could talk to you about snow globes... Welcome to the wonderful world of collectors! While almost everything is collectible, France has long been affected by "acute collecting mania."

According to a study carried out by IFOP in 2021, 39% of French people collect some type of object and on the Ebay site, which commissioned this study, more than 1.8 million objects are offered in the...

...to read more, join our community of subscribers

and access all of our articles on the website and mobile app

from €1 for the first month, with no fixed term commitment

{'skus': ['lerswgpremium16']}

Google: €1 for the first month, then €12.99