Member Profile: Olav Claassen

Editor’s Note:  Olav is one of our newer members, joining in January 2020.  As you will see, he has a huge and interesting collection and has been sharing examples on our Facebook group for members.

Tell us about yourself – where you are from, your occupation, etc.

My name is Olav Claassen, 59, I am Dutch and live in the south of the Netherlands close to Eindhoven. I am married with a combined family of 6 adult children and granddad to two beautiful grandchildren.

Currently I’m self-employed as an IT Program Manager and working for a client on a major Human Resources Program in Rotterdam. Originally I am trained as a certified male nurse but left that profession in 1987 to start as a computer programmer. My passions are cooking and collecting. I also like music and travel.

How did you start collecting bookmarks?  Do you remember your first bookmark?

I clearly remember when this hobby started. I am a collector of different things and 18 years ago, my mother-in-law at the time died and she left a bookmark collection. Nobody was interested in it so I took it on as a new collection. The rule was to collect only the bookmarks that you can get for free, but over the years that rule has been put aside as I have bought a few sizable collections and they obviously have a lot of commercial ones. So, my first bookmark is actually a collection.

Do you have any favorite types or special emphasis in your collection?

I only collect paper bookmarks from all over the world and all topics outside religious ones. The main reason is that with religious ones there is basically no end to it and I am not religious anymore.

What is the most unusual bookmark in your collection? 

Probably the ones (4) that can slide to show all the moon phases. They date back to the 40’s. 

How do you acquire your bookmarks?

Obviously I ask for them in bookshops wherever and whenever I can. I get them from people that save them. Also when I am traveling, I try to take home as many as possible without spending a fortune. I also buy on the internet like on the Dutch version of  Craigs list and on auction sites. 

How do you organize, display and store your collection?

All sorted bookmarks are stored in plastic folders in ring binders. The plastic folders I organize myself by using a bag seal machine. Very helpful. Currently I have well over 200 ring binders (wide ones), but when I am done sorting all bookmarks, I guess I will be close to 300. I estimate that I have at least 50,000 bookmarks! 

What has been your experience in using the IFOB Swap List?

Haven’t used the swap list yet. I have offered to swap bookmarks, but no transaction has taken place yet. I do have over five large moving boxes full of double bookmarks and it would be a waste to throw them away at some point. 

What do you enjoy about IFOB?  Anything you would like to see IFOB do in the future?

It’s nice to be part of a community of fellow collectors and recently I started sharing pictures and stories which is nice as I am getting positive reactions. Along the way useful information is exchanged.

Do you have any plans to celebrate World Bookmark Day next time?

I will next time.

Do you collect anything else?

I collect art, mainly silk screen prints. I collect 5 different designs of Waterman roller ball and ball point pens, and I have a large collection of classical stamps from Hungary. If I lived alone, I would probably become one of those hoarders 😊

Anything else you would like to share?

I would love to see more people share bookmarks from their collections and generate some more activity within this small community. And as said, when people want to swap, I am available. I will happily send a box full and pay for the postage if I receive a box with bookmarks in return. Doesn’t need to be the same number, size or weight.