by Bill Retskin

(Editor's Note: This list came from several people outstanding collectors who have been members of the hobby for a long period of time. It is prefaced with an honest disclaimer from the current list maker (who shall remain nameless by request). The list remains confusing to your editor; so all questions should be sent to me but directed to The Collectors. Use it as you see fit. As editor of The Front Striker Bulletin, I concur with this statement and their conclusions.)

This article might be more properly titled "More Disagreement & Confusion." It might be said that all of the old records were parleyed (all that were available, that is). In addition, it might be said that a number of recognized "long time collectors" were also queried regarding their opinions, premonitions and feelings. It might be said mentioned any illustrative list of elder spokespersons would certainly include names like Arnold, Branchaud, Cooper, Hospers, Hovious, Loveless, Mensch, Moffett, Oliver, Perkins, Policke, Reese, Riggs, Ryan, Torrant...and of course, the United Matchonian.

The truth is that volumes of notes have been heard and recorded. To this day, there remains conspicuous disagreement among the several different sources mentioned here.

It was not the intention of this legion of "long time collectors" to raise controversy or to comment on the reasons for any disagreements expressed. It was their purposes to show just when certain manumarks were used and to try to answer the numerous inquiries that are constantly receive. The objective here was to help collectors organize their collections and recognize that with any large company (such as Diamond Match Co.) an orderly time frame procedure must be taken into account. As list making continues, The Front Striker Bulletin will publish what it can.

General agreement exists that the Diamond Match Company was formulated as a conglomerate and built by absorbing a number of smaller match manufacturing companies. They were also the first company involved in book match making of any significance.

Diamond #1: "Patented Sept. 27, 1892, Licensed Match" is on the saddle. (Dates from 1892-1905).

Diamond #2: The same wording as Diamond #1, but appearing at the top of the cover. (Dates from 1905-1909).

Diamond #3: "The Diamond Match Co., Barberton, Ohio" is on the saddle. (Dates from 1909-1910).

Diamond #4: "License Match" and "The Diamond Match Co." appearing in two lines, at the top of the cover. (Dates from 1910-1912).

Diamond #5: "Approved Match No.7 Licensed Match" and "The Diamond Match Co." in two lines. (Dates 1910-1912). (Note: This is one of the areas of disagreement. Same issue dates or conflicting dates?)

Diamond #6: "Close Cover Before Striking Match." The first time this statement was used. (Dates from 1912-1915).

Diamond #7: The same as Diamond #6 but in LARGE type. Now appearing at the bottom of the front panel. (Dates from 1915-1916).

Diamond #8: The same as Diamond #6 in LARGE type, location??? (Dates from 1917-1918).

Diamond #9: Same as Diamond #8 but in small type. (Dates from 1919...).

Diamond #10: "Close Cover Before Striking" and "Diamond Match co." in two lines at the top. (Dates 1919-1920).

Diamond #11: Same as Diamond #9, but in LARGE type. (Dates from 1920-1921).

Diamond #12: "DIAMOND MATCH CO." in two lines with LARGE type. "Close Cover Before Striking Match "in two lines, small type. (Dates from 1921-1923).

Some general notes on collectors who own rare Diamond covers follows.

It has been further postulated that Diamond Match Co. issued its "Diamond Quality" footer as early as 1922 with a cover from the U.S.S. Sirious.

Ed Perkins was once quoted as saying: "The oldest known cover advertised Knight cigars. It was made in 1896, Diamond Match Co., Barberton, Ohio. 'The Diamond Match Co., U.S.A.' and 'Volume 1'. Below the striker is 'Patented Sept. 27, 1892'."

He also stated: "There are just two known Diamond #1 covers left. One, in my collection, shows Statler Hotels, with just three locations. The other, from the Hotel Sinton, Cincinnati, is in the Walt Mensch collection."

Neal Hospers has a cover from the Hotel Albermarle in New York. It is a Diamond Quality and that hotel was torn down in 1921.

The Diamond #3 covers are proudly owned by Harry Branchaud (Hotel Chalfonte, Atlantic City), Neal Hospers (Hotel Chalfonte and the (hotel) Haddon Hall. This would probably be prior to their merger. Bob Oliver (Hotel Biltmore, New York).

(This article was originally written for The Front Striker Bulletin in mid 1992.)