Do you collect something? This quiz is all about collections of different kinds. Whether you’re a collector or not, I hope you find this quiz interesting. 1. In what presidential campaign year did the modern, celluloid political button first come into wide use? 1940; 1896; 1952; 1960.
2. I have a cap that is very fashionable. On the cap are two C’s that are interlocked. Which fashion house has provided me with this cap? Versace; Gucci; Chanel; Prada.
3. At a stamp show, someone asked for an 1875 cover (envelope) from Afghanistan to the U.S. with a perfect stamp on it. I was unable to grant him his request. Why? The Afghans canceled their stamps by tearing the corner off; No one in Afghanistan was allowed to write in English; The US and Afghanistan did not recognize each others’ post offices; Afghanistan did not have any post offices until 1914.
4. A number of people collect Mihons from Japan. Do you know what Mihons are? Specimen postage stamps; Collectible card games; A type of buckle; Miniature tea cups.
5. U.S. stamps in the old days primarily depicted presidents of the United States. Can you name the first non-president to appear on U.S. postage stamps? Martha Washington; Ben Franklin; Christopher Columbus; Queen Victoria.
6. Scrimshaw is the name given to handiwork created by whalers made from the byproducts of harvesting marine mammals. What US president was an ardent collector of scrimshaw? Dwight Eisenhower; Thomas Jefferson; John F. Kennedy; Gerald Ford.
7. Who would collect a penny black? Philatelist; Zoologist; Numismatist; Alchemist.
8. If you collect ovoid shaped objects, what do you collect? Photographs; Coins; Eggs; Ornaments.
9. A coaster, or beermat, is a mat used to rest glasses of beer (or other beverages) on. What name is given to the collecting of beermats? Philately; Tegestology; Reflexology; Matology.
10. What would you use a cheval for? As a footstool; Putting the baby to bed; Putting flowers in; To gaze at your reflection.
ANSWERS
1. 1896. The celluloid political button, which is the staple of most collectors, consists of a round piece of paper with a photo or slogan, covered in celluloid with a pin-back attached to it. Prior to 1896, campaigns used metal pins that framed small photos of candidates, as well as ribbons, coins and trinkets. 2. Chanel. Gabrielle Chanel, nicknamed “Coco,” started a couture shop in 1909 in Paris. Gradually, her company has grown to become one of the leading fashion houses in the world. The logo for Chanel is a double C that is interlocked. It comes from Gabrielle’s nickname, “Coco;” and was given to her by the Chateau de Cremat in Nice. 3. The Afghans canceled their stamps by tearing the corner off. 4. “Mihon” means “specimen” and Japanese postage stamps are distributed to schools and the media with this overprint. The US and most other countries use “Specimen,” as an overprint for samples sent to the UPU. 5. Ben Franklin. In 1847, when the U.S. first issued stamps, the former postmaster Ben Franklin was an obvious choice. Queen Victoria has never been on a U.S. stamp. 6. John F. Kennedy. 7. Philatelist. The penny black was the first pre-paid postage stamp. It was produced in England in 1840. 8. Eggs. 9. Tegestology. The name is derived from the Latin word “teg”, meaning a small rug or mat. Beermat collectors are “tegestologists.” 10. To gaze at your reflection. A cheval is a free-standing adjustable mirror standing on a four legged frame. The mirrors first known as “horse dressing glasses” first became possible in the late 18th century when technical advances made it possible to cast single plates of glass. The French gave the name “cheval”, their word for horse, to this type of mirror.