Some would say this is the ultimate in American collectibles, and they might well be right. It is also a field loaded with ephemera. Autographs, bumper stickers, pins, pens, posters, patches, sashes, matchbooks, postcards, “coins,” you name it. Straw boaters with political candidates’ names. The thing about most election items is that if the named politician wins, lots of people keep the ephemera and if the politician loses, everyone trashes the evidence. So, should you keep the winners or the losers? Well, perhaps it would be best to keep both. (Remember, I am a collector.) A collection from all sides a particular election would probably be more valuable in the long run, if the election turns out to be a historical one. For elections that never impinge on national or international events? Well, a collection that shows all sides of elections in a town, city or state over years would be valuable to that town, city or state’s historical museum, and chances are no one else would have a similar collection to contribute. This kind of collection would require dedication and commitment, but collectors have these attributes. So if your interest is in the political process or you are politically active, save that material, perhaps boxed by election cycle, and see what happens in the future.
Less ephemeral political items also exist. Frankoma produces a donkey and an elephant mug for each year. The colors vary from year to year, but the basic form stays the same. The year is modeled into the mug itself, so identification is relatively simple. A row of identical mugs in various colors representing your political party, or both, would make a nice display.
There are recipe books tied to political entities, usually at a fairly local level. Halloween masks and bobbleheads of particular politicians are available. Key chains, bottle openers, lunch bags, baseball caps, T-shirts, shot glasses, banks, and all the usual promotional items are made for state and national elections as well as local elections.
The national parties are represented in everything mentioned above as well as cookie cutters, ties, bandannas, candy molds, Jim Beam decanters, trinket boxes, Pez dispensers, Beanie Babies, costume accessories and hats.
There are promotional items for political causes, such as a call for the reduction of specific taxes, like tobacco taxes, or for and/or against causes like nuclear power.
The possibilities for political collectibles is enormous, and provides plenty of scope for the collector of Americana.
By the way, if you get tired of US political collectibles, there are some interesting items available ion the international scene, especially the USSR. Items with Stalin’s features are a big export from Russia right now. Check them out.
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