I have you price guide book. Have you ever thought of doing a picture book on the best matchcovers? Thanks Rich
Thanks for asking. Currently, I have several gallery pages at our WebSite with colorful example of match art. I plan on adding more as time permits. I have thousands of colorful images from matchcovers. I wish I had the time to just "publish." It is so much fun. The next benefactor you find with a spare $20K that like colorful matchcovers . . . send him/her my way.

I would not care if I never received another hard copy of the Bulletin but common sense tells me there are tons of people out there who really would miss it. You do put out a QUALITY bulletin - I have said this before - and this may be the only connection to matchcover collecting some people have. A shortened version could save you some work. I guess, in the end, it might come down to how many folks you want to reach and keep active in the hobby.

Summer is SCREAMING by. The only matchcover-related fun I've had lately was when a local woman brought around her Dad for a visit. She has been buying matchcovers from me for him for Christmas and his birthday and always said if he ever visited her long enough, she'd bring him over. We had a nice visit. Ever since I started writing this, I've tried to think of his name but I can't bring it up. He was a member of AMCC but does not have a computer - he's just the sort who probably would still want to receive a Bulletin. Giant Features is his favorite category and he just about bought me out! The site looks great and I'm happy to be a member of the on-line Club!

Thanks, Suzanne, for your update and note. I am thinking about revising my decision on the hard copy publication, but as I've mentioned to others, not until the site is finished. I am working daily to get everything in place. I'll make an announcement as soon as I can.

I have finally started to separate and categorize my covers and need some BASIC help. I find that I have (maybe) many Group 1 covers. My question: Is it still a Group 1 matchcover if the cover has the name of the flower, animal etc., is it still a Group 1? If there is advertising or writing inside does this mean it's not Group 1? Is there something, in writing, that I can get that explains parameters of a category definition?
Thanks, Gerald Goleman

Thanks for this question. The original definition of Group One (Group I) was any matchcover without advertising. I think they meant commercial advertising. When the supermarket sets became popular, they were included in this classification; however, the majority of the hobby thinks of Group I matchcovers as those from the sports and movie sets produced between 1933 to 1938. Different authorities may offer variations on this definition, but overall, I think they will agree on the DMC sets and series produced after the Great Depression. Regarding written category parameters, there should be a few in the glossary section of the WebSite.

I came across your website as a result of a search on the topic of matchcover collecting. My wife and I were discussing a question of safety regarding her matchbook collection. We have several hundred that we have gotten down through the years and they are in a tall antique fruit jar. This jar, which was used for putting up fruit in quantities years ago, is very large (nearly two feet tall). We were wondering if this constitutes a safety hazard. Could you advise please? I also wondered whether the value (if any) of her collection would be harmed if we removed all of the matches. Thanks for any advice you can render. Bob Hampton

Thanks for writing. As safety matches (modern match books) they is no fire hazard. If (God forbid) your house caught on fire, the matches would burn with more intensity than a newspaper or curtain or whatever. But as far as spontaneous combustion, it isn't a problem. The only thing that kind of storage will do is possible hurt the value insofar as serious collectors want mint condition match books and/or matchcovers. Scratches, dents, stains, etc., reduce their value. To answer the second part of your question, I would say that removing the matches from post-1960 match books wouldn't really harm their value. In the early days of the hobby, matchcovers were the popular collectible as ten could be traded through the mail for three cents. Match books often crushed or were damaged. Today, most collectors enjoy both, and even though full books are more difficult to store and ship, they hold a special place in the hearts of many serious collectors.

I collect tobacciana: I picked up a silver plate ash tray that has or had inside matches,on what I would call a pin wheel-carousel stacked and mounted vertically. This was done so you could pull one off and strike it on a striker strip to light. Interesting piece, what I am asking is, do you have or know of some one who might have replacements for them.

Thanks for writing. The pin wheel matches I've seen were mostly used for church votives. I have had several, mostly from the WWII period. Advertisements on the sides were for charitable donations for worthwhile caused. To my knowledge, none of the companies that produced these older pin wheel matches are still around. With as brief a description as you sent, it would be difficult for me to approximate the date and/or what it would take for a refill.

What do you mean by "repaired" in the description of this matchcover?

During the first 20-30 years of the hobby's existence, matchcovers were plentiful. Occasionally, however, lightly struck matchcovers were "repaired" by darkening in the marks on the striker. Although this practice wasn't wide spread, those who attempted repairs soon became very adapt. There are reports that in some cases, even an expert couldn't tell if a matchcover striker had been repaired or not. At any rate, when I see them, I like to announce it as part of my listing description. As an afterthought, many collectors don't really care about the striker (as long as it is present and not damaged), and collect for the beauty of the art work, the theme or the category.

I have a box of matchbooks with prince Charles and princess Diana of their wedding picture are they worth anything.
Thanks for writing. This match book is known as a "national," and printed primarily for the low-end market (vending machines, non-commercial giveaways, etc.). I imagine that they were printed by the billions for world consumption and up to now, have not had any sales value within the matchcover collecting community. They are found on most "freebee" tables at matchcover swapfests and are a typical novice pick-up item.

I gather from your nickname that you know something about matchcovers :) I came across a large box full of match covers at an antique mall. It had thousands of covers, but all were without matches. They were all in excellent condition. My question: Is there a market for covers containing no matches? The price on the box was $495 for the collection.

Thanks for writing. In today's market, that's a lot of money to pay for matchcovers. As a collector, I wouldn't buy anything unless it was in mint (not in a "box full of") condition and properly cared for over the year. Used or damaged matchcovers have little to no value. Here are a few tips. 1. Few matchcovers produced after 1965 (striker on the back) have any value, either (with some exceptions). 2. Categories are important. Colorful, interesting matchcovers are wanted by collectors, especially those in areas such as Sports, National Political, Girlies, Airlines, World's Fairs, Military, Railroads, Cars, etc. 3. As an investment and generally speaking, restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, banks, nationals & supermarket matchcovers are practically worthless, unless you are just collecting for the enjoyment. In any case, I would be very careful. Having not seen the accumulation you talk about here, I can't advise you any further. One thing, however, start the discussion with the seller by offering him $50. He probably paid that for the entire lot and just might want to get rid of them.

I have been given a shoebox full of assorted matchbook covers collected over many years as mementos of trips. They are just the covers without matches or stickers. Some have pictures of boats and trains some are restaurants and hotels from around the country. I would like to know if they are likely to have any value to collectors.

Within this hobby, matchcovers, without strikers, are called "bobtails." They are worthless to serious matchcover collectors; however, there are people who buy bobtails to decorate coffee tables or room dividers. If the category on a bobtail is in great demand, someone may wish to have a bobtail just for the keepsake. Most serious collectors are only interested in mint condition matchcovers or full books.

Answering in line:
Anyway. Let me begin by saying I know nothing about matchcovers. That's
why I'm writing to you! Just today I bought THE most "incredible" wall hanging, and I'm rather excited about it. I was drawn to it because it's incredible to look at -- it's hundreds of vintage matchcovers.

The matchcovers are mounted flat in a frame that's 42 by 60 inches. It's one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I paid $100 for it. I brought it home and noticed it was very dusty, so I carefully sprayed Fantastik cleaner on a soft rag and gently cleaned each cover, careful to make sure the colors weren't rubbing off (they didn't). Anyway, as I was cleaning it I realized what a treasure trove I have here, and figured a true matchcover collector might enjoy knowing what I've run across! The approximate age of the collage is 1965, I found the words "1965 season" on a cover from a racetrack. But what's fascinating to me is that so many of these are from famous nightclubs all over the world that I've heard of from that time period!
Here are just a few:

* The Lido in Paris * The Russian Tea Room (lots are from New York and the East Coast) * The Dunes in Vegas * Sardi's East * The Trocadero * Coconut Grove * The Istanbul Hilton * Julius Monk's Downstairs at the Upstairs * The Playboy Club (that's an matchbox with the little drawer still in it) * Mr. Kelly's in Chicago * The Pentagon Officer's Athletic Club

So I'm curious about two things: First, have I actually run across the treasure that I think I have? I'd never sell it but I would be curious as to what it's worth.

Thanks for writing. In my humble opinion, collecting may be viewed from two distinct viewpoints. Collect to eventually sell, with careful study, evaluation & investment potential, et al. OR. I love it! I want it! I've got the perfect spot for it! (also, et al). You know where you are. Your enthusiasm arrived before your e-mail did. So what you paid for it means little to what it returned the moment you saw it. From the practical standpoint, however, there are a few things you should know. Short of purchasing my book, let me say that with ephemera, condition is king. Since you said it was a wall hanging, I might query the method by which the matchcovers are attached to the hanging itself. This might determine the condition. Any adhesive would diminish their value. Tears, nicks, surface abrasions or marks on the striker are also factors. But remember, that's not why you purchased it. Without seeing the piece in front of me, a moment not honestly anticipated although I live in the D.C.area for 20 years, this is the best I can do.

And, is it OK to hang this on the wall? I'd hate to store it away somewhere. It won't be in direct sunlight, that's for sure. It'll be on a living room wall that's perpendicular to my main window, and back about 10 feet from that. And the blinds are down all day while I'm not here. I guess I'm asking, do the covers fade? The vast majority of these are in incredible shape, colorwise. Quite vivid. Some are faded, but most are lovely.

Any sunlight (direct or reflective) will fade color. That is a universal given. Matchcovers were made to be thrown away and therefore, not the best paper in the world. I believe, with the location you've described, it will be O.K. for the next decade or so.

Answering in line: In Reminisce magazine, May/June 2000 issue I read your article on match covers. I have some match covers with recipes (supermarket matchcovers aren't usually collected by serious collectors) printed inside the covers and the advertisement of their product on the outside of the match cover such as Hunts sauces and ketchup, Hunts paste,etc used in the recipes. Also, others with Wesson salad cooking oil advertisements that are used in the recipes . The matches have been removed and the staple and the scratch pad to light the matches is also removed (these are called "bobtails" and are worthless to serious collectors). My question to you is: are these match covers worth any thing to anyone in their present state? (No! I don't think so.) I think I know the answer but would like to hear your opinion.

Once I discovered that Golf Ball boxes are perfect for storing matchcovers without having to bind them with rubber bands, which eventually rot and fall off anyway. I usually stop by the pro shop at our local golf courses and ask them to save me some. They are just about perfect for front striker covers. Warren McConchie

Thanks for writing. In today's market, that's a lot of money to pay for matchcovers. As a collector, I wouldn't buy anything unless it was in mint (not in a "box full of") condition and properly cared for over the year. Used or damaged matchcovers have little to no value. Here are a few tips. 1. Few matchcovers produced after 1965 (striker on the back) have any value, either (with some exceptions). 2. Categories are important. Colorful, interesting matchcovers are wanted by collectors, especially those in areas such as Sports, National Political, Girlies, Airlines, World's Fairs, Military, Railroads, Cars, etc. 3. As an investment and generally speaking, restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, banks, nationals & supermarket matchcovers are practically worthless, unless you are just collecting for the enjoyment. In any case, I would be very careful. Having not seen the accumulation you talk about here, I can't advise you any further. One thing, however; start the discussion with the seller by offering him $50. He probably paid that for the entire lot and just might want to get rid of them.