Russian student collects over 2,000 bricks

In St. Petersburg, Russia, a student named Alexandr Semiletov is pursuing an extraordinary passion: collecting bricks. His collection now boasts over 2,000 pieces, collectively weighing close to 10 tons. Semiletov's unique hobby began four years ago, and he has since dedicated himself to finding and preserving these historical building materials.

Semiletov sources his bricks from a variety of locations, including old buildings slated for demolition and the grounds of former Tsarist-era factories. His dedication is such that he sometimes travels as far as 600 kilometers in search of a particularly rare or interesting brick. The value and age of each piece are often determined by a specific mark, a quality control measure introduced by a decree from Nicholas I in 1847.

The collected bricks are meticulously stored in a private home, where Semiletov has constructed extensive custom shelving. These shelves feature individual compartments designed to hold each brick, stretching for hundreds of meters. At the base of the shelving units, additional bricks are piled, awaiting cleaning or designated for potential exchange with other collectors. Semiletov engages with a community of fellow brick enthusiasts, noting one collector in Russia who possesses around 6,000 pieces.