Editing Patch collecting (section)

==History==
Badges have been collected since ancient times. Greek and Roman [[pilgrim]]s to [[Paganism|pagan]] shrines made collections of miniature images of gods and goddesses or their emblems, and Christian pilgrims later did the same. Usually medieval Christian pilgrim badges were metal pin badges - most famously the shell symbol showing the wearer had been to the [[shrine]] of [[Saint James the Great|St. James]] at [[Santiago de Compostela]] in [[Spain]]. These were stuck in hats or into clothing and hardworking pilgrims could assemble quite a collection, as mentioned by [[Geoffrey Chaucer|Chaucer]] in his '[[Canterbury Tales]]'.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The growth in the 19th century of travel for ordinary people saw a huge increase in the [[souvenir]] industry, as these new secular pilgrims - like their medieval counterparts - wanted to bring back reminders of their holidays/vacations and sightseeing, ranging from china plates to postcards.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The production of stick-on souvenir badges seems to have started in mainland [[Europe]] during the early 20th-century, probably in Germany shortly after the First World War when [[hiking]] became popular, and people began sewing badges of resort towns onto their [[backpack]]s and jackets. In the U.S., the development of the [[National park]]s system and the growing popularity of vacationing saw a similar development of patch collecting.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

After the Second World War, American [[G.I. (military)|GI]]s occupying Germany sent badges back to their loved ones, showing where they were stationed. These badges became known as ''sweetheart patches''. They were also imported to Britain by Sampson Souvenirs Ltd., which also began producing badges of British tourist spots, and went on to become (and still is) the largest British manufacturer of souvenir badges. The biggest American manufacturer is Voyager Emblems of [[Sanborn, New York]].{{cn|date=February 2024}}