1 of 2 | Sunil Joseph earned a Guinness World Record for his collection of 858 different paper cups. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records
May 27 (UPI) — An Indian man with a lifelong passion for collecting earned a Guinness World Record for his collection of 858 different paper cups.
Sunil Joseph, 57, told Guinness World Records his collecting habit started with stamps, coins and matchbook stickers when he was a young boy.
“This early curiosity evolved into a lifelong passion, leading me to curate diverse collections ranging from razor blade wrappers and airline boarding passes to coffee mugs and tea bags,” he said.
Joseph earned his first Guinness World Record for his collection of 5,986 phone cards in 2014.
“The specific focus on phone cards, which led to my first major milestone, began in 1997. While looking through my brother’s wallet — he was working in the Merchant Navy at the time — I discovered a phone card from the UAE. The design and the concept intrigued me so much that I began seeking out cards from every corner of the globe. Over the next 15 years, my collection grew to over 12,000 cards representing 245 different countries,” Joseph said.
“Although I had thousands of cards, I submitted 5,986 for the official count to secure the title. While that specific category has since evolved and the record was eventually surpassed, I remain confident in the depth of my archive. However, rather than retaking that title, I have shifted my focus toward new challenges.”
His latest challenge earned him the world record for the largest collection of paper cups. He said his 858 cups come from 31 different countries.
“This growth is rarely a solitary effort. My friends and relatives across various countries frequently contribute items they find, helping the collection expand far beyond what I could gather alone,” he said.
Joseph said he has already filed an application for his next Guinness World Records title: the largest collection of wedding invitations, which is currently held by Sofia Sakalaki of Greece, who has 600 invitations.
