For students who have grown up with online shopping, cell phones, and life on demand, the items inside felt like artifacts.

For megafans of megastars like Madonna and Mariah Carey, obsessive collecting is an emotional, not a financial, investment.

Britney Eurton serves as a reporter for NBC Sports’ horse racing coverage, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Eurton made her NBC Sports debut ...