Great Gifts for Historians - from a to Z

Almanacs. World Almanacs list all kinds of fun facts from the past.

Bookstore gift cards. Bibliophiles and history buffs are cut from the same cloth. We can all lose ourselves in a good bookstore.

Civil War memorabilia. Check out current offerings on ebay. Garments, weapons, and other intriguing items are available.

Dictionary. A new comprehensive dictionary is handy for anyone, particularly a smart and studious history fan.

Encyclopedias on CD-rom. What could be more entertaining than searching favorite topics on a home computer?

Family histories. Genealogy is appetizing to history buffs. Why not offer assistance with the process? You will learn a lot about your own family!

Guinness Book of World Records. With updates issued annually, this is a history buff's favorite.

Historical postcards. Visit antique stores for some unusual finds.

Interesting stamps or coins. Coin-collector stores, pawn shops, and collectibles websites offer a wide range of these.

Junk store finds. Visit a second-hand store and browse through curio cabinets for unusual items. Some call them junque, while others call them hand-me-downs, but history lovers call them jewels from the past.

Kits for constructing pieces of history. Dinosaur skeletons, fossil models, and other archeological artwork kits are available in educational toy stores and online.

Letters and official documents. Ancient correspondence, bearing a famous signature or seal, will be a treasured possession. Look online and in antique shops.

Maps and atlases. Old maps can be intriguing for history lovers. Ancient seafaring charts can even be framed for display.

New reproductions of ancient jewelry. Copies of old baubles are exciting to history buffs.

Old wines. Vintage vinos may be expensive, but they make wonderful gifts. Look for collectible bottles with interesting labels.

Photographs from bygone eras. Look online for royalty-free items to download, or purchase from history-oriented websites.

Quilts of antiquity. Amish quilts are extremely popular!

Relics from historical societies. From plates to papers, and from furniture to flyleafs, it is amazing what a little digging can lead to.

Spectacles. Old-fashioned reading glasses can be funky and useful for the recipient who enjoys poring over old documents. (Be sure to order the right level of magnification.)

Travel packages for historical or archaeological expeditions. Local colleges or alumni associations may offer fascinating excursions into the past.

Unbroken plates or figurines. Collectibles usually come in annual editions. If your recipient collects such items, look for years they may be missing.

Video club membership. Blockbuster, Netflix, and other companies offer monthly subscriptions. Your history buff can watch old movies, or even new movies about old subjects, to his heart's content.

World Book Encyclopedia set. Last year's set is usually available for half-price!

eXciting 3/D puzzles. History lovers can reconstruct a piece of history! Look for the ancient Roman landmarks, early airplanes, or the Eiffel Tower.

Yearly magazine subscriptions. Historical magazines abound. Find one in an area of interest (WW2, Revolutionary Era, etc.)

quiZ book or games. History buffs enjoy testing their expertise with a quiz book or a trivia game about the past.

As Spanish philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." (From: Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Volume I). Happy historical holidays!