Austrian philosopher of science Otto Neurath was famous for his passion of collecting various curiosities. Here's some of the things he was interested in:

hieroglyphics
isotype (vienna method)
pictocharts/pictograms
phenakistoscope
atlas
pictorial mnemotechnique
emblem
symbol/inn signs
binary/duodenary systems
visual aid/visual education
saragon (voice)
synchronogical chart
tangram (dissection puzzle)
rebus cards
roundel
alphabet books
accident prevention pictures
optical teaching aids
zoopraxiscope
drawings of primitive peoples and children
sachbilder (descriptive pictures)
anamorphic pictures
mayan pictures
cave paintings
silhouettes

source: Neurath, O., From Hieroglyphics to Isotype: A Visual Autobiography, 2010 Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoopraxiscope