The oldest thing i own

“What is the oldest thing you own?” For Thomas, who originally asked the question, it’s a Sisters of Mercy tour shirt from 1985. For Ruben, who brought it to my attention, it’s books from the 2000s. Apart from a small blue stuffed bear i’ve had since the day i was born, the oldest thing i’ve continuously owned might be my Apple IIc, which i’ve had for 30 years1. Unfortunately, i lost my box of 5.25″ floppies half a dozen moves ago. It’s due for a cleanup and recap anyway. What about the oldest thing period? I’ve just turned on a lamp from the 1970s. I’m sitting on a sofa from the 1960s. I have a camera from the 1950s. I type my shopping lists on a typewriter from the 1940s. I’ll come back to the revival of a typeface i found on car adverts from the 1930s. I could mention my small collection of antique books, including a wonderful treatise on typography from 1870 and a selection of Nicolas Boileau’s works from 1858, but i’d be cheating. It’s not hard to get older books, just…