Collecting Snow Globes

My thirteen-year-old daughter began collecting snow globes when she bought her first souvenir snow globe in Jamestown, Virginia. She was six at the time. Most of her collection consists of those little plastic souvenir snow globes, but she also has several large quality snow globes.

Whenever my husband and I travel, we pick up a snow globe to add to her collection. Most adult collectors talk about their regret over discarding those little souvenirs, which has encouraged us to continue buying them for her.

Walmart and The Disney Store always have adorable snow globes for sale around the holidays, and we try to purchase one large themed snow globe each year. The Disney store usually has a sale before Christmas with their snow globes discounted at least twenty percent.

This is an easy hobby for children since the initial investment is low. Children love to buy souvenirs everywhere they go, and this gives their purchases purpose. They will begin coming home from school field trips with snow globes rather than candy and cheap toys.

Snow globes should be kept on a stable shelf since they are difficult to impossible to repair. Keep snow globes out of direct sunlight as it fades colors quickly. Keep the temperature in mind. The glass can break if the liquid inside boils or freezes. The liquid inside most snow globes will evaporate over time. Time may also fade colors and cause the snow to clump and settle. It is best not to refill or refurbish older snow globes because that will reduce their value.

With any collectable, it is wise to learn the history of your hobby. Snow globes first appeared in the mid-1800's as paperweights. These paperweights contained snow, called flitter, which was made out of the fragments of porcelain, china and bone. Some flitter was made from ground rice and metals. The first snow globes were made of glass and filled with water. Later, the water was replaced with oil. Today's snow globes are usually made of plastic and filled with a mixture of water and glycerin. Glycerin makes the flitter fall slower.

Snow globes are also known as snow domes, snow shakers, water domes, water balls and blizzard balls.