Updated
Updated · NPR · May 30Digital Natives Flock to Allentown Paper Show for Vintage Postcards and Comics
3 articles · Updated · NPR · May 30Summary
- Young collectors at Pennsylvania's Allentown Paper Show are buying vintage paper ephemera, with old postcards and comics drawing particular interest.
- The appeal stands out because these buyers grew up in a digital era with far less everyday reliance on paper than earlier generations.
- Their presence shows paper collectibles still attract a new generation, extending demand for physical memorabilia despite the shift to screens.
Insights
Why are digital natives trading pixels for paper, seeking connection in fragile artifacts? Is the future of collecting a physical item with an unchangeable digital history? As AI archives the past, will the value of original paper treasures soar or plummet?