Oh, Matchbook...Old Matchbook...Where are you...
Everyone has a matchbook collection, you just don't know it! Here's a few tips and ideas to consider.
Finding Yours!Take a look around your house and you will be surprised at how many matchbook covers that you may find.Just for starters, why not try looking in some old drawers: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. Finished with your house? Good! Let's go hunt somewhere else. Why not try one of these places:garage sales, flea markets, antique shops, antique malls,...even your grandpa's attic. Chances are, he has a drawer full somewhere collecting dust! Heck, Grandpa would probably be glad to get rid of them! But please, ask him first! These are all great places to find a wide assortment of matchbook covers. Relatives are a great source! (Particularly if they are smokers, campers, or travel frequently!) Let them know about your new or existing hobby. Don't forget about ebay! Ebay offers dozens of auctions for matchbooks on a daily basis! It's a good way to "window shop!"
By now, you get the point...matchbooks can be found just about anywhere! Think small...think big! They come in all sizes!
 (Please note! This is also a great time to look for other paper treasures and paper collectibles. If you are just visiting this site, well, that's what our site is all about. Find those hidden gems, pull them out of the dust pile, clean them up, display them, and preserve them!) Check out our collecting memories page for more ideas. What to look for...Like we mentioned earlier, most people have a bunch of matchbooks tucked away somewhere! That's fine! But now, you've decided to add to your collection. What should you look for?First and foremost, make sure that the matchcover hasn't been used! Used matchbcovers are basically worthless to a Phillumenist! Age is sometimes hard to determine, but look for a thick cardboard cover. It is usually more porous than modern covers and nearly twice as thick!
Matchbooks are sold in a couple of different ways. Many are simply sold "as-is" in the standard folded pack. But the serious collector's will disect that pack by removing the staple and flattening out the cover. This is fine, but be very careful if you have never tried it. Damaging the cover, even slightly, can ruin the value of your matchbook. (The above example illustrates that you could also advertise on the inside cover just as easy and effective!) Buyer beware! Here's something that we didn't know about! If you come across any matchbook covers that are flat, un-creased, no folds, and no staples...buyer beware! These covers are referred to as "salesman's samples". True collectors consider them of little value because they were never made into the "real thing!" (Note: We kind of like the unusual. Though we are not avid Phillumenists, we think finding a "salesman sample" would be kind of cool...at least for us!) Covers To Avoid!Most paper ephemera will suffer over time, if not properly cared for. Matchbook collecting is no different! Avoid damaged covers from mold or mildew. Pass on badly faded covers or if the ink used is chipping and flaking off. Noticeable rust around the staple is also "no-no!"
Damaged or used strikers are also cause for dismissal. Look inside the cover! Sometimes, you'll find some pretty cool graphics in there! But, not if tape was used to hold everything together! Pass! Badly damaged, stained, taped, and generally ragged covers are normally worthless! Of course, there are always exceptions! If you think that you have an extremely rare item, then have it checked out, before you file it away! Remember to Protect and Preserve!Once you have a nice collection started, remember to protect and preserve them in the proper way. If you haven't yet, why not take a minute and review some basic guidelines on our preserving memories page. We'll wait!
Back? Okay, here are a few additional tips to keep in mind when it comes to displaying and storing your collection. Display - Buy a matchhcover album. Yes, they make Archival quality albums solely to show off your display! (Kind of like a typical scrapbook!) Nice, huh? Most albums will include various slot sizes to fit all varieties of sizes. (Most are 20 or 30 count!) A good quality photo album will also work just fine! Make sure the pages are archival quality and see through; you want to see both sides of the cover. DO NOT USE cheap paste, glue, or tape to mount your covers! Storage - For flat covers, store you covers in bundles wrapped with acid-free paper or pieces of acid-free backer boards. Don't forget to use Archival Tape to secure the paper. Small Archival storage boxes can be used for regular shaped packs. Be generous with buffer paper to help keep this environment acid-free...at least, as much as possible!
For Additional Information...That's what we try to do...In fact, there is an entire society that does... The Rathkamp Matchcover Society! This group has been collecting matchcovers for 70 years! They love doing it and are very knowledgeable. If you are truly interested in this hobby, it is worth checking out this site! In addition to that, The Vault, is another interesting site related to this fun hobby. There, you can find extensive history, great buying and selling tips, tools of the trade, and a whole lot more information related to matchcover collecting. One of our goals, on this site, is to help you find what you need for your collection. We have another page for you to check out, as well. Matchbook collecting, is a page worth looking at, before you leave us! Plus, here's where you can send us an example of one of your favorites to post on our website. We'd love to share it
Random Notes...
Take a few minutes and sort through your collection. What exactly do you have? Random matchbooks from random travel and ordinary daily use? Or maybe you are have a sales job which requires heavy traveling, and along the way, you picked up a very nice asssortment. It may just be worth taking a closer look at those and creating a album or scrapbook.
Our Advice? You may be a phillumenist; you just don't know it yet! Focus in on a particular category. Once again, study-up! Learn your collection inside and out! Learn which matchbook covers interest you the most and can add the most value to your existing collection. Ask around... We have found (quite by accident) that there are more phillumenist out there than we knew about. It has been an exciting addition to our website. Hopefully, over time, we can continue to add valuable information to these pages.
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