Official Collector Names

OFFICIAL COLLECTOR NAMES

All these names are found in at least one dictionary. There are other terms used by collectors that are common, but not yet recorded as "official" by a dictionary. Those are on our Unofficial Collector Names list.

Aerophilatelist [air-oh-fi-LAT-l-ist]

a student or collector of airmail stamps, cancellations, etc.
[Base Origin: aero- + philately]

Arctophile [AHRK-tuh-fahyl]

a person who is very fond of and is usually a collector of teddy bears
[Base Origin: < Gk arkto-, comb. form of arktós bear + -phile]

Audiophile [AW-dee-uh-fahyl]

a person who is especially interested in high-fidelity sound reproduction
[Base Origin: 1950–55; audio- + -phile]

Bibliophile [BIB-lee-uh-fahyl, -fil], -ist [bib-lee-OF-uh-list]

a person who loves or collects books, esp. as examples of fine or unusual printing, binding, or the like
[Base Origin: 1815–25; biblio- + -phile]

Conchologist [kong-KOL-uh-jist]

a collector and student of mollusk shells
[Base Origin: 1770–80; conch + -o- + -logy]

Deltiologist [del-tee-OL-uh-jist]

a postcard collector; a person who collects postcards as a hobby
[Base Origin: 1945–50; < Gk deltí(on), dim. of déltos writing tablet + -o- + -logy]

Discophile [DIS-kuh-fahyl]

a person who studies and collects phonograph records, esp. those of a rare or specialized nature
[Base Origin: 1935–40; disc + -o- + -phile]

Ex-librist [eks LEE-brist]

a collector of ex-libris records

ex-libris [eks LEE-bris, LAHY-]

from the library of (a phrase inscribed in or on a book before the name of the owner): Ex libris Jane Doe.
an inscription in or on a book, to indicate the owner; bookplate.
[Base Origin: 1875–80; < L ex l?br?s out of the books (of), from the books (of)]

Exonumist [ek-suh-NOO-mist, -NYOO-, EK-suh-noo-, -nyoo-]

a person who collects exonumia (items, as tokens or medals, that resemble money but are not intended to circulate as money)
[Origin: exonum(ia) + -ist]
[Base Origin: 1965–70; exo- + num(ismatic) + -ia]

Iconophile [ahy-KON-uh-fahyl]

a connoisseur of icons or images
[Base Origin: 1880–85; icono- + -phile]

Lepidopterist [lep-i--DOP-tuh-rist]

the collecting of butterflies and moths
[Base Origin: 1895–1900; Lepidopter(a) + -o- + -logy]

Numismatist [noo-MIZ-muh-tist, -MIS-, nyoo-]

a specialist in numismatics
a person who collects numismatic items, esp. coins
[Base Origin: 1790–1800; < L numismat- (s. of numisma) coin + -ist]

Oenophile [EE-nuh-fahyl], -ist [ee-NOF-uh-list]

a person who enjoys wines, usually as a connoisseur.
[Base Origin: 1925–30; < F < Gk o?n(os) wine + -o- -o- + F -phile -phile]

Oologist [oh-OL-uh-jist]

a collector of birds' eggs
[Base Origin: 1825–35; oo+ -logy]

Philatelist [fi-LAT-l-ist]

the collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment
the study of postage stamps, revenue stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postal cards, covers, and similar material relating to postal or fiscal history
[Base Origin: 1860–65; < F philatélie < Gk phil- phil- + atéleia freedom from charges (taken to mean recipient's freedom from delivery charges by virtue of the stamp which sender affixed to the letter), lit., want of taxation, equiv. to a- a- + tél(os) tax + -eia -y]

Phillumenist [fi-LOO-muh-nist]

a collector of matchbooks and matchboxes
[Base Origin: 1940–45; phil- + L lumen light + -ist]

Pyrographer [pahy-ROG-ruh-fur]

one who burns designs on wood, leather, etc., with a heated tool
one who collects such items
[Base Origin: 1875–80, Americanism; pyro- + -graphy]

Scripophile [SKRIP-uh-fahyl], -ist [skri-POF-uh-list]

a person who practices scripophily
[Base Origin: 1975–80; scrip + -o- + -phile]

scrip [SKRIP]

a receipt, certificate, list, or similar brief piece of writing
a scrap of paper
Finance:
--a certificate representing a fraction of a share of stock
--a certificate to be exchanged for goods, as at a company store
--a certificate indicating the right of the holder to receive payment later in the form of cash, goods, or land
paper currency in denominations of less than one dollar, formerly issued in the United States
[Base Origin: 1610–20; earliest sense “scrap of paper” perh. gradational var. of scrap; subsequent sense development shows influence of script and subscription, with def. 3a specifically a shortening of subscription receipt]

Vecturist [VEK-chuh-rist]

a person who collects transportation tokens as a hobby
[Base Origin: < L vect?r(a) transport, money paid for transport, fare (vect(us) ptp. of vehere to convey + -?ra -ure) + -ist]

Vexillologist [vek-suh-LOL-uh-jist]