Would you have an idea what the Mickey Mantles may be worth?

To my knowledge, there were six different Mickey Mantle matchcovers made during his affiliation with the Holiday Inn in Joplin, MO. The green back is the most common, probably worth $20-$25. The black back matchcover is the scarcest, and I've seen that one go at auction for $55. The rest fall in between or whatever you can buy them for. Of course, these prices are only for mint condition (unstruck) specimens. (edlet53a)

A friend of mine has a matchcover she is considering giving to a "silent" auction. It is in a presentation box and from the Reagan White House. On the front is embossed THE WHITE HOUSE and RONALD WILSON REAGAN. On back is the Presidential Seal. The matchcover is in excellent, unused condition. The presentation box is a little worse for ware. Not really too bad, but shows it's been around. Can you suggest a value? Your help is greatly appreciated. I might bid on it myself. Stan

I've never seen the presentation box you suggest, which may throw this figure off, but recent Presidential matchbooks have been going from $5 to $25 at auction. Of course, the more valuable are from earlier administrations. (edlet53b)

Just wondering if there is any value to this matchbook cover produced by Eddy Match Co. in Toronto, which shows Charles & Di. It is in excellent condition and has picture and wedding date on front.

From what I've seen, there isn't much value right now. Too many of them were manufactured. I don't believe that enough time has elapsed since her death to add significant value. Maybe another 10 to 15 years. (edlet53c)

I just read your article on the "History of Matchcovers" and may have something that may change what is there today. I have a box of papers dated 1877 - 1893 that hadn't been disturbed for over 100 years. At the bottom of the box there was a matchbook (no matches inside) with the following writing... "Diamond Quality...close cover before striking." The part that "may" contradict your page is the fact that this has advertising on it. On the butt of the cover it says "United Cigar Stores Co." flanked by two red shields. On one side it advertises the "Barking Dog.. Good...Mild Cigarettes...15cts for 20." On the opposite side it says "Wrigley's...After every meal is good for you." I truly believe this to be earlier then the Opera advertising matchbook but since I am not a collector I'm not 100% sure. Please contact me if you have any information on this cover. Thanks....Mark

Of course, I always welcome new finds within the hobby, but the matchcover you describe, I believe, is from the 1920s. I have one in my collection. Diamond wasn't a match "book" company until 1894 when it purchased the only available patent for book matches. Up until then, strike-anywhere sticks were the common form of ignition. The period prior to the Diamond Quality era (1923-1936) was represented by the Diamond Safety First footer marking, and others were known previous to this one. (edlet53d)

I was prompted by Bruce Randall to write to you. I won an auction from Bruce on eBay for 11 Knights of Columbus match books and I was curious as to the availability, price, etc. etc. for more of these. I am a member of the KofC and a collector of KofC memorabilia. I had one matchcover from Olean, NY. Then I won four more on eBay about a month ago and now I get another eleven. Does this mean I am getting hooked? Can you give me any wisdom as I swim through uncharted waters? I know nothing about collecting these items. Greg

Thanks for asking. Briefly, my book will cover many points, as a novice you would be likely to ask. Keep in mind: Care, condition, classification, storage, display, etc. If your palms itch and your brow becomes sweaty as you bid at the computer, you are hooked, but don't worry, there isn't any cure. Just enjoy your new habit. As for more KofC matchcover! Well, as collectors choose to put them up on eBay, you'll find them. AMCC (our club) has over 450 members, many of whom probably (no promises) collect or have fraternals (the general classification for your topic in the hobby). Why not join AMCC for a year and see what damage you can do among other serious collectors? (edlet53e)

I have been searching for a BF Goodrich matchcover advertising their key chain license plates. They had these brass key chain license tags available from 1939-1942 (for only 10 cents with the purchase of tires). A friend has a matchcover showing them so I am sure they exist. If you would happen to have a spare, I would be very interested in purchasing it (or if you have more than one, we would also be interested). Ron

Although I handle between 50K to 100K matchcovers yearly, I haven't seen that one. Good luck with your search. (edlet53f)

I did not bid, because the description "sheet" to me would indicate something a good bit larger than 8" X 11". This would be more accurately described as a "strip." Sorry, but I have NO IDEA how matchbooks are printed for production, but suspect they are in bigger pieces than this. Gene

Thanks for your comments. These sheets are usually 10 matchcovers across (20 strikes are 17 across), but the batch that I received were already cut into four and five matchcover strips. I don't know exactly how large these are when they are printed (probably larger than 8" X 11"), but almost immediately, they are cut to the height of one matchcover, and then cut again for the individual piece. (edlet53g)

Looking to sell. Inherited a collection in the mid 50s. Cut off all the strikers to make them fit in my scrapbook (I was in third grade), but think they're gorgeous otherwise, all categories, I think mostly from the forties. Thanks for contacting AMCC.

Serious matchcover collectors only collect mint condition specimens. Bobtails (matchcovers without strikers) have no value, even from the 1950s. I have 10,000 plus that have come in as parts of various collections I've purchased over the years, and I can't even give them away. I plan to wall paper a room or room divider someday, but as far as having any value for serious collectors . . . nada! (edlet52a)

Thank you for answering my questions! I will be joining the Matchcover Organization soon. I have one last question, but only answer it if you have time. 1) I have a couple of back strike matchcovers with old phone numbers on them, so is it safe to assume that some vintage matchcovers were made with back strikers. David

The Federally mandated conversion from front to back strikers took about 10 years to complete, during the approximate decade between 1965 through 1975. The Bicentennial "Happy Birthday America" set was the last front striker issue. Note that there were hundreds of back strikers matches made as early as the late 1930s, too. But that's another story.

Phone exchange updating from low digit numbers to the standard seven-digit number we use today, also took place over a longer period of time. Although I have not done research in this area, it probably took place over a 40-50 year period. I heard that one of the last conversions took place in the late 1960s in a very small Arizona town.

At any rate, there was a lot of overlap and it is possible to find back strikers with phone numbers of less than seven digits. There's a lot more to this, which only extended research will complete, but time and expense don't allow for it right now. Maybe a younger collector will pick up the challenge in the next millennium. I look forward to your membership. I hope this helps. (edlet52b)

I have been a collector for a number of years; have been a member for several years. I love collecting, looking, the colors, touching matchbooks (weird huh?) I like full matchbooks the best. I really need to organize and display some of my matchbooks; I am really lost as to the best way to do that. I have about 50,000 covers (some new, some old), and I store them in popcorn tins. I have yet to buy or sell or trade over the Internet, etc. Not because I don't want to, one reason is time, also it would be nice if some one would explain a little better the auctions, etc. Thanks and keep up the good work! Ben (edlet52c)

Hi, I'm working on a documentary for PBS on Dashiell Hammett. In it, one of the interviewees talks about matchbook covers advertising "Read the great books", "Improve your vocabulary", "Become a writer" or "Send to become a great artist". We are interested in finding covers like these from the 1910's to the 1920's (1930's are o.k, if graphics don't give them away to the average viewer) to use in the film. Would you have any ideas where I could find such covers? Of course, we're in a hurry to trace them, and would be interested in anything like the ones I mentioned. Thank you, Lori

What I think you are describing are what is known in the hobby as "nationals!" These are very common and usually not collected by serious matchcover enthusiasts. In addition, I do not know of nationals from as early a period as you speak of.
Prior to the Great Depression, paper match books were given away with tobacco purchases. Insofar as these purchased didn't come from vending machines (not until the mid 1930s), matches frequently advertised the store or company making the sale. Custom printed match books have been around almost from the beginning commercial match book manufacture in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The concept of renting space on match books, using the manufacturer to distribute the match books (probably the very first nationals), was only conceived of in the middle 19teens, and probably didn't have much of an impact on the industry until the early 1920s. Even then, I feel that the concepts you speak of ["Read the great books," "Improve your vocabulary," "Become a writer" or "Send to become a great artist"] are adjuncts to a later period in American pop culture.
Lastly, might I point out that match books were made of the most inexpensive paper stock, as manufacturers didn't make them to last any longer than it took to smoke a pack of cigarettes. Examples of matchcovers I have from the 1910 and 1920 period are extremely fragile, with hand-applied wide strikers. Although preserved in special collection albums, the handling of such fragile material would mean certain demise, especially if handled by someone who was not experienced in dealing with 70 & 80 year old ephemera.
I truly wish I could be of more service. If you need other match books that I can loan or sell to your venture, please advise. (edlet52d)

In general, pre-1965 (front strikers) in mint condition are what is wanted by serious collectors with some exceptions. Hotels, motels, restaurants & banks are common, especially after that date. Any stains, dings, dents, tears, missing matches from full books or scratch marks on the striker, relegated the match in the used and generally "unwanted" category.Restaurants come and go like flies. Extinct restaurants & hotels are very common when you look at the big picture. That generally isn't a criterion. Hope this helps. You might wish to find a copy of my book at your library and check out some of the other parameters of collecting matches. Also, check our WebSite. (edlet52e)

Thanks for chance to bid on this great matchcover! If you have any other Swiss Pavilion momentous, let me know. My parents came to USA to work at the Swiss Pavilion in 1939. My father was chef at the Pavilion and Mom was a waitress. They met on the Queen Mary coming over, got married here and then couldn't return to Europe after WWII began. And then I arrived! So the 1939 New York World's Fair and this Pavilion have some sentimental value for me; hence my special interest. Many thanks again for your prompt response! (edlet52g)