Hats off to this collector of caps
George Jardine, from Van Dyk Park, has a collection of over a 1 000 caps which he started collecting about thirty years ago.
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This number excludes duplicates. Whenever he receives a double, he gives it away.
Jardine has not bought any of the caps in his collection but received them from friends, family and strangers.
All 1 000-plus caps are hanging from the ceiling in his lounge, each protected with plastic.
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This area has been transformed into an entertainment area and this is where you will also find all Jardine’s other collections: From kieries to mugs and mini sports cars and beer brands ‘from the year dot’.
He said his cap collection is worth about R100 000 and includes expensive caps that have their own serial number, like the Ferrari caps.
Also in the collection are old school caps, a Moroccan soccer cap, rugby caps, liquor brand caps and other random caps.
According to Jardine, he doesn’t have a favourite cap.
He’s not fussy when he’s given a cap, however, he was “forced” to put up Blue Bulls caps, he said jokingly.
A Western Province rugby cap is not yet in his collection and he said he’ll put it up if he gets one.
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One day, when he went to donate blood, Jardine noticed a cap he wanted at the blood donor centre.
“These caps aren’t meant for the public. I asked them if they wanted my blood to which they replied ‘yes’. So I said in return for my blood, I want the cap,” Jardine said.
A few days later he received the cap, which was especially couriered to him from SANBS in Johannesburg.
If there’s a cap you’d like Jardine to add to his collection, contact the Advertiser on 087 285 6458.