ResearchThe A to Z of Christmas Gifts for Hobbyists - part 1
A: Astronomy. Probably any backyard astronomer has a telescope already. You might consider a star guide book, a wall chart or poster of the skies, or software for their computer that shows stars by hemisphere and constellation.
B: Bird Watching. Birders have a lot of needs. The latest bird guide book, a subscription to a birder magazine, binoculars, and bird call whistles are the obvious choices. How about a map book for traipsing around those parks without getting lost, or a warm coat for those dewy morning expeditions?
C: Comic Books. Collectors of comic books will most likely have picky issue preferences out of your price range, but anything like a handsome wall poster of their favorite super-hero, a guide book, or a subscription to a currently published series might do. Virtually anything from coffee mugs to T-shirts to car decals is available with comic characters on it. Don't forget tickets to an upcoming comic book convention!
D: Dolls. A no-brainer here. Be sure your doll collector doesn't already have the one you're getting. Desktop display cases and posing stands are an idea here too.
E: Engineering. Those who putter around building all manner of gizmos could always use a new tool set or raw materials such as wire, bolts, resistors, solder, circuit board sets, LEDs, and meters.
F: Fossils. Well, you can't very well buy a dinosaur skeleton and give it to someone, but head on over to the gift shop at your local science museum or the nature store found in most indoor malls. These places always have natural science toys, books, and memorabilia. Any fossil specimen you do find is a must, since there's little fear of duplication here.
G: Guns. Gun enthusiasts always need ammo! You can also consider gun care and cleaning items, safety vests, hunting gear in case their interest lies in that direction, or perhaps a membership at a target range.
H: Hardware. The builder on your gift list probably has a long list of tools and accessories from the home-building store that they're coveting. Not hard to shop for at all.
I: Illustration. The illustrative artist could always go for a new set of paints, inks, pencils, brushes, or whatever other medium they use. Other equipment such as a lightbox or frames for their finished work would probably be appreciated.
J: Jewelry. Whether you jewelry fancier collects jewelry or makes their own, display boxes and dresser-top stands always work. For those who make their own, you can find a selection of very fine tools sold at specialty stores, along with raw materials.
K: Knives. The counter-point to the gun enthusiast, the knife collector is always looking for another piece to add to their collection or a handsome wall mount to show off their finds. Knife collecting crosses with many other interests and cultures, without really getting attention as it's own hobby.
L: LPs. Also known as "Long-Playing records", these vinyl platters from a bygone day were what they recorded music on before tapes and CDs took over. Scrounging some used-music stores will reveal a selection at very reasonable prices. LPs are making a big comeback as collector's items currently.
M: Manga. A special breed of comic collector. Manga is the center of a huge craze going on in the USA right now, and you can hardly walk into a bookstore without stumbling upon a manga section. Manga is Asian comic books, and it constitutes it's own genre outside of mainstream American comics.