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German Collector Shatters Record with 11,017 Snow Globes

12/21/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Josef Kardinal, a German snow globe collector, holds the world record with 11,017 pieces.
He began in 1984 and collected Harley-Davidson globes and Titanic miniatures.
The oldest globe dates to 1889 and features the Eiffel Tower, while the smallest is a pin.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kardinal added novelties such as a toilet-paper globe and a Taylor Swift's 2024 album globe.
He stores the collection in a basement in Nuremberg.

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Story summary

Josef Kardinal, a German snow globe collector, holds the world record with 11,017 pieces.
He began in 1984 and collected Harley-Davidson globes and Titanic miniatures.
The oldest globe dates to 1889 and features the Eiffel Tower, while the smallest is a pin.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kardinal added novelties such as a toilet-paper globe and a Taylor Swift's 2024 album globe.
He stores the collection in a basement in Nuremberg.