ALT-3 Gift Ideas for History Buffs
Gift Ideas for History Buffs.
Your challenge: to find a gift today, that celebrates your loved one's fascination with the past, and that will be cherished well into the future!
The best gifts are those that show a genuine understanding of the recipient. You should know a few things about your history buff, in order to pick out the perfect gift.
What, specifically, fascinates your history buff most? Find out which historical periods, figures, and topics he or she is passionate about. Ancient Greece? Medieval knights? The French Revolution? The American Civil War? World War II? Once you narrow it down to specifics, you can then go seeking the appropriate gifts.
FOR THE READER
History buffs often tend to be voracious readers, so history books are usually a welcome gift. Once you know what time periods he or she is interested in, you can look for related books. Aside from purely factual history books, you might even consider literature written in or about a particular time period.
However, your historian may already have quite a book collection, and you might not want to give a duplicate of something he or she already owns. In that case, a bookstore gift card is a good idea.
You might also want to explore a bookstore that deals in rare and used books. Your history buff may deeply appreciate a classic hard-cover first edition that's in good shape. Even if he or she already owns a newer edition of the same book, he or she might see it as a historical relic in itself!
ART AND MEMORABILIA
Many rare book dealers and most antique shops sell old maps and ephemera (old magazines, photographs, letters, advertising art, and various memorabilia). You can find such items dating back to (or related to) your history buff's favorite time periods and places.
These genuine items can make wonderful gifts, especially if you have them framed nicely as a one-of-a-kind historical work of art. Reproductions of period art and memorabilia are also a nice (and often less expensive) option.
Note that old paper is often very delicate (and may have collector's value), and should be framed carefully with archival, acid-free materials that will help preserve it. Consulting with a professional frame shop might be a good idea.
FOR THE DOCUMENTARY/FILM LOVER
Videos and DVDs of historical documentaries and period movies also make terrific gifts for the history buff. The History Channel's website (http://store.aetv.com/html/home/index_branded.jhtml) is an especially great resource for documentaries.
OTHER HISTORICAL GIFTS
Antique shops may be a good place to browse when looking for a gift for the history lover. Most history buffs have an appreciation for things that are old, or just have an interesting story behind them.
History lovers usually appreciate sentimental gifts. The gift of something special that belonged to a loved one, or is associated with the family's ancestry, or even just reminds the history buff of a favorite place can deeply touch the heart. It is difficult to be too sentimental when it comes to gifts for a history buff.
There are also a number of catalogs and websites which sell historical reproductions, as well as genuine artifacts. Old coins, tools, weapons, and so forth can be located with a little research.
Imagine surprising a lover of Ancient Roman history with a genuine ancient silver coin with the likeness of Claudius or Nero on it! (A quick internet search found a Roman Claudius coin dated somewhere between 41 and 54AD, selling for $110)
Obviously, use caution when purchasing artifacts: be sure you deal with a reputable seller, and insist on a certificate of authenticity.
Overall, finding the perfect gift for a history buff takes a little bit of research and digging, but it's worth the effort to give a thoughtful, meaningful gift that will be treasured for a long time. And you might even learn something about history, yourself!
