Try web searches using these terms - several hits will offer explanations:
    why people collect
or
    hoarders            (the extreme examples)
 
here is one interesting site
http://www.horizonlines.org/volume4/about/why/index.html
 
PS --
I collect mice - stuffed, glass, plastic - all kinds -
esp Christmas mice (I just bought a new one today)
Childhood nickname was "little mouse" and since then the collection is growing! -- 600 or so and counting.
Best wishes, Barbara Hass, retired librarian



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