Charles Gauthier is a rare collector, possessing about 80 inaugural plates made for the Presidential Inaugurations since Franklin Roosevelt's 1933 ceremony. Among them are plates signed by presidents such as Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Gauthier’s rare passion for this collection places him among the few to have amassed such a remarkable assortment, each plate a testament to the long-standing tradition of commemorating these historical events. "People often ask me what personal value these plates hold for me, and all I can say is, it's the history behind them," Gauthier shared in an interview with AFP at his Virginia home, just days before Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington. Gauthier, a DC native, is eager to add the plate from Monday's ceremony to his collection as he shows us the prototype produced by the inaugural committee. For him, each plate represents something much more than just an artifact. "It’s a deeply meaningful, heartfelt feeling knowing that I own a piece of American history," he says. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES