Cooperative historian and author David Thompson is selling his extensive collection of co-op memorabilia from around the world to the next generation of co-op collectors.
Born in 1942 18 miles from Rochdale, England, David was immersed in cooperatives early on. The Blackpool Co-op’s electric van delivered co-op milk every day to the family’s front door, while the co-op’s lorry delivered coal every week. David’s mother worked at the Blackpool Co-op’s Department Store and his father worked at Blackpool Co-op Bakery. He was instrumental in establishing the National Cooperative Bank, worked with John Lewis during the civil rights movement and was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 1980.
David has been an avid collector of historic co-op memorability for more than 60 years and has close to 1,000 co-op items ranging from co-op badges and buttons to a Pop Art co-op milk carton and commemorative cups and plates.
With much of his collection sitting in storage boxes for decades, David says he decided the Year of Cooperatives was the perfect time to introduce a new generation of cooperators to unique pieces from the movement’s history, adding he hopes the new owners will “bring them proudly out of storage and into the light.”
Proceeds from the sale of David’s co-op memorabilia will fund a virtual tour of the collection.