INTERVIEW: FIGURINE MONDIALI EUROPEI
1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF . (NAME,SURNAME,LOCATION,SOCIAL MEDIA
ALIAS NAME/ALSO WORDS ABOUT YOUR PROJECT)
My name is Simone, and I live in Turin. On social media, I'm known as Figurine Mondiali Europei on Instagram, while on Substack, I run Storie di Figurine, a biweekly newsletter about sticker collections. I mainly collect stickers from the 1970s to the 1990s, with a special focus on the World Cup and the European Championship.
2. WHEN DID YOU START COLLECTING AND HOW/WHY?
I started collecting at the end of the '80s, and the first collections I remember are from the 1987/88 season and the 1988 European Championship.
I still recall how, every Sunday, my parents would give me 10 packs of stickers, which I carefully placed in the album. Being a huge football fan, stickers were a very important expression of my passion.
During my teenage years, I took a break from collecting, but after 2000, I picked it up again with the 2006 World Cup. From that moment on, my passion kept growing, eventually taking shape in my social media channels at the end of 2018.
3. WHAT ARE YOUR MOST VALUABLE ITEMS ? NAME ONE WITH SENTIMENTAL VALUE AND ONE WITH MONEY VALUE.
If we talk about economic value, the most valuable piece in my collection is definitely the complete Mexico '70 Panini album. I'm particularly proud of it because I managed to complete it between 2018 and 2019, starting with an album that had only about 80 stickers.
In terms of sentimental value, all the Italia '90 albums hold a special place for me. I'm trying to collect every version distributed worldwide, both by Panini and other publishers. If I had to pick just one, I'd say the Hong Kong edition, the last one I bought.
4. HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND IN STICKERS/CARDS WEEKLY/MONTHLY/YEARLY ?
It really varies depending on the opportunities and what I come across. There are months when I don't spend anything and others when I spend more. On average, I'd say I spend around 200 euros per month? (my wife will read this interview, so I can't say any more! ??).
5. WHICH TEAM DO YOU SUPPORT ?
I support my hometown team, US Alessandria, which reached Serie B a few years ago but unfortunately dropped to the amateur leagues after bankruptcy. As for the team I root for with sympathy, that would be Juventus.
6. NAME YOUR FAVOURITE INSTAGRAM, TIK TOK AND X(TWITTER) ACCOUNTS, BESIDES YOURS !
There are so many I like, but if I have to pick two?though I'm sure I'm leaving out many?I'd say Sports Sticker Hunter on Instagram and the blog Cartophilic Information Exchange. If you're looking for details on a collection and can't find them there, I doubt you'll find them anywhere else!
7. HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF THE "HOBBY" ?
I find this surge in interest very exciting because it stimulates the entire hobby and brings more attention to it.Personally, though, I don't follow many of the trends in modern collections, so I tend to stay out of the hype surrounding newer stickers. What I love the most is genuine collecting?the kind that drives people to seek stickers for their emotional value rather than just their monetary worth.
8. DID YOU EVER TAKE PART IN ANY FOOTBALL STICKERS/CARDS FAIR ? IF YES, WHICH ONE ? DO YOU
HAVE A FAIR YOU REALLY WANT TO GO TO ?
Yes, absolutely! I often attend fairs because what I enjoy the most is exchanging information, knowledge, and sharing the same passion with other collectors. I've been to Bologna and frequently visit fairs in Turin, as well as the Fiera della Figurina in Asti.
9. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE BRAND (PANINI/TOPPS/UPPER DECK/ETC.) ? AND COLLECTION ?
When I think of past collections, especially pre-2000, the first name that comes to mind is Panini. However, I'm also very fascinated by Euroflash, an Italian brand active in the '80s and '90s.
10. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF STICKERSONE.COM ?
I think Stickers One is doing a great job, and there's great potential to provide a high-quality product that's incredibly useful for collectors. I really like being able to navigate a player's career through their stickers in an intuitive and straightforward way.
sito/newsletter: https://storiedifigurine.substack.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/figurinemondialieuropei
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