What is Ephemera?
Ephemera is transitory written and printed matter not intended to be saved, retained, or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera include advertising, business cards, bookmarks, catalogs, matchbooks, greeting cards, letters, pamphlets, postcards, posters, prospectuses, stock certificates, ticket stubs, and magazines. To summarize, ephemera includes a broad range of everyday paper documents intended for a one-time or very short-term use.
Presented is an Example of Ephemera, “This Week in New York” vintage 1932, a weekly news magazine:
This Week in New York 1932
An Interesting Society
The Ephemera Society of America, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed in 1980 to cultivate and encourage interest in ephemera and the history identified with it; to further the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of ephemera by people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of interest; to promote the personal and institutional collection, preservation, exhibition, and research of ephemeral materials; to serve as a link among collectors, dealers, institutions, and scholars; and to contribute to the cultural life of those who have an interest in our heritage as a nation or a people, both nationally and internationally. The Society sponsors an annual convention that includes seminars, exhibitions, a superb ephemera show and sale, workshops, collector forums, and other conference events. The Society’s Web site — www.ephemerasociety.org — connects with thousands of visitors seeking information about ephemera, provides contacts with other collectors and ephemera-related businesses, and includes notices of Society events. (source www.ephemerasociety.org)
