..antique prints- 18th century (and before when I can afford it). Relatively inexpensive copper engravings are wonderful mementos of my trips to join the memories which are irreplacable.

Nativities - I was in Naples in November and had a wonderful time on Via San Gregorio!

Postcards and really any kind of ephemera. I scrapbook and collage them.

Earrings!

Gelato spoons! You know, the plastic ones you get with the cup or cone.They can be clear, bright colors or even swirled design an remind me of all the gelato I have eaten in Italy and Paris! They are in a big bowl, must be close to one hundred I think. (ok, this is a seven year collection!LOL!)Scarves, Eiffel Towers and linens.

My wife collects embroidered patches from around the U.S. and every country we visit. When we sift through them they remind us of our good times traveling.

Matchboxes. Wherever I go, I take a matchbook and record, on the inside cover, the date I visited, with whom, and something special about the visit. I love going through these matchboxes and remembering the special events. I collect them from all over: my hometown, places in the U.S. as well as overseas.

BTW, I don't smoke.

Years ago, my best friend and I would collect the "tackiest souvenir" from each place we visited. Eiffel Tower sponge was a favorite.

Vintage souvenier china plates from places I've visited...I shop for them after I get home (ebay, antique stores, etc.) I've found this inhibits my tendency to buy endless trinkets that looked amazing on the shelf, but not so great in my house!

Sterling silver charms for charm bracelets. It's hard to find well-made and interesting ones now in the visited city so I generally find them on eBay before or after a trip. I now have 8 bracelets!

I collect bookmarks.

I can't believe it - I was reading down through this thread and thought, I must be the only one who collects bookmarks...

Menus from fine restaurants. I am nearly as passionate about food as travel so always ask to see the kitchen.

kwren, fascinating topic! I collect antique dolls and ephemera during my travels.

We collect.... Fodors guides. We rarely visit the same place twice so every holiday means another guidebook.
Plus each holiday we buy a picture,porcelain or publication of where we have travelled.
And of course,memories!

We frequently go to Spain, Portugal and France. I buy and/or collect: those great big olive oil soaps from Nyons, Limoges boxes, menus (have framed many--usually get the menu signed by the chef), original watercolor, pillows, the Cerri-art dolls you can buy on Rue du Rivoli in Paris.

We also collect the waiter-style corkscrews, with the nicest being the Laguiole.

Always buy small ceramic or porcelain boxes. In Portugal, we get the Vista Alegre ones as well as Coimbra ceramic. In Hungary, of course, we bought the Herend boxes.

We like to buy something really unique and interesting so that we will always remember our trip and the great time we had!

Hey artlvr - how many Eiffel Towers do you have in your collection? I'm up to 19 now! My largest is a lamp (complete with tacky pink lampshade with gold trim) I received as a gift when I lived in France 40 (!) years ago. The smallest is about 1/2 inch tall, given to me in a Paris shop this summer. I was buying 4 others and when he heard about my collection, he threw that one in.

I collect a bunch of junk, among it:
- magnets for my fridge
- mugs
- little elephants
- "do not disturb" signs