Largest Collections of Items in the World

Feb 10, 2011
Toby Welch

Do Not Disturb Signs Make an Interesting Collection - Phrontis

Forget the books of stamps, spoons, and coins - collectors today are going all out! Check out these massive collections.

When you think of collections, coins and stamps come to mind. But some people have gone far beyond that and have collected more of any one interesting item than anyone else.

Largest Airsickness Bag Collection

Forget snow domes, postcards, T-shirts and sombreros… Guinness World Record holder Niek Vermeulen prefers stomach-churning vacation souvenirs: airsickness bags.

Marketing and investment consultant Niek Vermeulen (Netherlands) has 5,468 airline sickness bags from 1,065 different airlines, as of 26 March 2008, which he has accumulated since the 1970s. The idea of collecting these motion-sickness mementos came when Niek was using a sick bag to scribble down expenses during a flight.

“Somebody has to do it,” says Dutchman Vermeulen, who believes that sick bags are not given the attention they deserve, and who heads a list of over 50 serious sick-sack collectors.

His favourites include a barfbag that spent 10 days in space onboard the Space Shuttle, and one from the US President’s aircraft, Air Force One.

Largest Collection of "Do Not Disturb" Signs

In 1985, while staying at a hotel in Sheffield, England, Swiss accountant Jean Francois Vernetti spotted a spelling error on a “Do Not Disturb” sign. “It was hilarious,” he told Guinness World Records. “I found it so funny that I took it home and showed it to the local newspaper – who published a photo of it.” Twenty-five years later, Vernetti now holds the record for the largest collection of “Do Not Disturb” signs, having amassed a staggering 8,888 different notices from 189 different countries. “Every sign brings back a special memory,” says Jean, who will now often change hotels during his trips specifically to add more signs to his collection.

Largest Jet Fighter Collection

The world's biggest private jet fighter collection numbers 110 and belongs to French winemaker Michel Pont of Savigny-Les-Beaune, in the Burgundy region. His hobby started in 1985, and includes Russian MiGs, British Jaguars, and French Mirages. He buys them from governments although they cannot be flown over French airspace.

Michel's 40-acre vineyard and 14th century castle not only hold his amazing jet fighter and helicopter collection, it also houses 500 motorbikes from numerous brands, from Norton to Terrot, with models going back from 1902. Not only that, he also has 24 Abarth Fiat racing cars, which he keeps in his barn loft.