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A.Word.A.Day--scripophily scripophily (skri-POF-uh-lee) noun The hobby of collecting historic stock and bond certificates. Also, such a collection. [From scrip, short for subscription + -phily (love).] "A sought-after category right now is Confederate bonds, many of which were sold in Britain. Keith Hollender, a London-based scripophily specialist with Herzog Hollender Phillips & Co., said British clothing makers purchased them because they needed the American South's cotton." Judith Rehak; Collectors Seek Out Old ­ and Scandalous ­ Paper; International Herald Tribune (France), Jul 8, 2000. "Check the library for reference books on collecting stocks and bonds, a hobby known as scripophily, or get an appraisal from antiques dealers." Sheryl Harris; Checking for Any Value in Old Stock Certificate; The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio; Jan 2, 2002. We all have collected stamps or something else as children. There are collectors for almost everything under the sun as a quick peek at eBay would show. And there are words for these hobbies of collecting and studying things: coins (numismatics), autographs (philography), matchbox covers (phillumeny), you name it. This week we'll collect some of the words to describe these pursuits. Do you have a hobby of collecting something unusual? -Anu X-Bonus A scholar knows no boredom. -Jean Paul Richter, writer (1763-1825)

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