It’s that time of year when gift guides rear their heads all around the internet. I decided to put together my own list of gifts for the history buff on your list, you know, the person who’s not a historian but who gets excited by stories and trivia about the past. (Note: books make great gifts for people with that kind of insatiable curiosity about the world, but I’ve narrowed my list to non-book gifts.)
History Lover Mug
As a big fan of libraries and history, I would love this mug for my afternoon tea!
Henry VIII’s Wives Travel Mug
For the coffee-drinker who also loves typography and British history.
History Buff iPhone Case
If being blunt is their thing.
Abraham Lincoln Compact
I thought this was amusing. (You can get mugs too.)
National Geographic Shut the Box Game
This wooden dice and tile game was originally played by Norman mariners.
Chrononauts Card Game
If your history buff friend/relative is also a fan of science fiction, consider this time travel game, where you get to change history at key points in time.
Civil War Toys
Take a look at this website if you’re looking for some old fashioned fun; it has a selection of toys and games from folk dolls to dominoes to a kit for making your own goose quill pen.
LEGO Architecture Kits
Try your hand at building the Eiffel Tower. Or the White House. Or Buckingham Palace. Or…
Roman Glass Jewelry
This gorgeous jewelry is made from 2000-year-old bits of glass excavated from ancient Roman ruins in Israel.
Declaration of Independence Tile Coaster
Here’s a practical gift for American history buffs.
Benjamin Franklin Bust
And something decorative for the bookshelf or mantel.
This is really good! (Gift guides are hard.)
Thanks! I suppose next year I should put one out a bit earlier…