What is the oldest thing you own?

22 Jan, 2026

After reading Thomas's post, it inspired me to do a reply post with my own list.

I then started to wonder about the parameters: is it something I have bought, or something I have been given? Or something within my lifetime?

Let's exclude the house, which was built in the 1850s!

Before my birth

I have a UK Three Penny stamp from sometime during 1873-1880. As a youngster I collected stamps and my uncle gifted me this one from his collection.

From Birth

The oldest thing would be my actual outfit from birth (1970).

When I turned 21 an Aunt surprised me with the outfit I left hospital in, as a new born. Apparently my mum passed it along to my Aunt when she was due to give birth. She kept it all those years and returned it to me. It's now 56 years old. Made of cotton which feels like string!

Things I have bought

I'm not much for hoarding or keeping things, but there are exceptions.

• I have my Motorola MicroTAC mobile phone from circa 1993. It was my second mobile device -- I never kept the first one.

• A book from 1877 which I spotted in a book shop which had a beautiful illustrated cover. "The Language and Poetry of Flowers".

Oddities

• My report cards from school. My parents kept them all and I now have them. During my formative years of education the teachers did not sugar coat the language, nor did they always find a positive, like they seem to do now. God forbid we should be honest with children. My recurring theme from teachers was "Talks too much". I was a good academic too, but disruptive. haha.

• My certificates of further education for my degree (1990) and various professional qualifications. I have never needed to show them as part of my career.

• Letters I wrote to my grandma when I was in my early teens (early 1980s). She apparently loved getting letters. I honestly don't recall writing them, but they passed to me when she died.

#Life #ReplyPosts