Collectible Disney Thimbles: Mickey Mouse at your fingertips

Do you collect thimbles?

It might not be a bad idea. Thimble is a curious object with a long fascinating history. Although it looks like some form of a jewelry or decor, the thimble is very utilitarian. It is made for pushing needles when hand sewing materials.

Some say that the earliest known thimble was found at the ruins of Pompeii which dated it to the days of the Roman Empire. But there were also traces of thimbles being used during the silk trade routes with ancient Chinese merchants.

My mother is a seamstress. And she taught us how to make simple mending of our clothes when we were kids. That’s how I was first introduced to thimbles and everything sewing.

For collectors, special commemorative thimbles have been around since 1851 at the Great Exhibition in London.  Thimbles from the days of the Roman empire were the biggest attraction.  I assume that it is also the same today, but with more selections.  For instance, among the most treasured collectible thimbles today are Disney thimbles adorning images of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, and the gang.

Because of their small size, collectors find it easy to display as many of them as possible at once.  Special displays are available for doing so.  The thimble displays can be as simple as a square or rectangle shelves.  The cooler ones are shaped as houses and barns.