The Popularity of Flip Books in the Papal Artifacts Collection
There are tons of gift shops all around St. Peter’s Basilica. In fact, gift shops may be the fourth most popular place at the Vatican. This item is something you would have bought probably at one of the little shops that would have been around in 1975, because it is from that year. It’s a little ‘flipper’. The official name for it is ‘flip book’. If you flip the pages fast enough it gives the illusion of a moving picture . This one is actually a photo of Pope Paul VI giving a blessing. It was done as a souvenir to commemorate the Holy Year of 1975.
The title of the flip book reads, in Latin, “Anno Santo 1975,” and depicts the Holy Father giving a blessing.
“May almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
The flip books in the Collection seem to fascinate people the most. I have all these really rare items, but people just get a kick out of seeing these little souvenirs.
I have a whole bunch of these little unique souvenirs in the Collection, including several flip books, which are the items that continue to be the most popular.
It is a highly collectible item. In fact there are people who collect only flippers. And to have one of a Pope giving a blessing for the Holy Year is really special.
Nowadays, people would buy a DVD. Then they bought a flipper!
—Father Richard Kunst