Yes, people do collect old match books. Match books, which were widely produced from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s and consist of a cardboard cover filled with wooden match sticks, are popular among collectors of vintage items.
Since match books became popular in the early 1900s, they have become one of the most recognizable American folk art, with their colorful and often innovative designs. Since each match book served as an advertising tool for a business or product, there are collectible match books in a wide variety of designs.
There are match books featuring different commercial products, such as beer and cigarettes, as well as match books featuring iconic images, such as cartoons and celebrities. Due to the wide variety of match books and their monetary worth, they are highly sought after by various collectors.
Are there any matchbook collectors?
Yes, there are matchbook collectors. Matchbook collecting has been around since the early 20th century and continues to be a popular hobby. Collecting matchbooks can be a fun way to preserve and share cultural history, as it records the tiny details of everyday life and provides a fascinating glimpse of the past.
Matchbook collectors usually seek out matchbook covers from a particular time period, place, advertiser, theme, or other source of interest. The matchbooks themselves can be worth various amounts depending on their age, condition, and the kind of artwork on the cover.
Matchbook collecting has become a popular hobby around the world, with matchbook collectors trading and selling matchbooks online, at flea markets, and at meetings of collector associations.
What are the most sought after matchbooks?
The most sought after matchbooks typically have to do with their age, design, and overall rarity. Vintage matchbooks from the 1950s and 1960s are particularly popular and highly sought after, with certain designs and years being more valuable than others.
Matchbooks which feature well known brands, celebrities or places are often popular. Particularly rare or exclusive matchbooks, such as those distributed at special events or commemorating a milestone, are highly desirable.
Matchbooks with images of sports teams and events, as well as those featuring exotic locations such as the Far East, are also sought-after.
What do I do with old matchbook collection?
If you have an old matchbook collection, there are several things you can do with it. You can keep the matchbooks as part of a collection or display them in your home. If you’d like to make a little extra money off the matchbook collection, you can put them up for sale on sites like eBay or Etsy.
Alternatively, you could also donate matchbooks to places like local historical societies, libraries, or schools. If you’d like to use the matchbooks in a project, they can be used to decorate frames, make greeting cards, or craft journals.
Finally, if you’d like to repurpose old matchbooks and give them a new use in your home, you could use them to start a fire or light candles and lamps.
What is the hobby of collecting matchboxes called?
The hobby of collecting matchboxes is referred to as phillumeny. This term comes from the Greek word for “lover of light”, which is a reference to the striking of the head of the matchbox against the striking surface.
This hobby dates back to the late 19th century and gained popularity in the early 20th century when matchbox designs began to feature popular advertising vehicles, such as artwork, logos, and slogans.
Phillumenists enjoy the history behind matchbox designs and often collect commemorative editions, artistic designs, and even limited-edition matchboxes. Many collectors also focus on a certain type of box, such as vintage matchboxes or different varieties of boxes across the world.
There is also a competition aspect to phillumeny as collectors sometimes try to acquire the rarest matchbox designs or those from obscure or defunct companies.
Additionally, current collectors can often study vintage matchbox labels and the history behind them, just like any other piece of art. In some cases, historic matchboxes can be worth much more than their face value due to their rarity.
As such, for many, it is a fun and interesting way to keep, display, and even trade collectable pieces of memorabilia.
What is the red stuff on the side of a matchbox?
The red stuff on the side of a matchbox is typically a type of strike-anywhere match coating. This red coating is composed of phosphorus, sulfur, and either glass powder or plastic-bonded sawdust. When the match is struck, the friction of the striking surface (usually sandpaper) causes the coated end to ignite.
This coating keeps the combustible compounds in place, allowing them to ignite quickly when a match is struck. Additionally, the red color of the strike-anywhere match coating helps distinguish it from regular non-strike-anywhere matches, which may look similar but lack the necessary coating.
What are matchbook collectors called?
Matchbook collectors are referred to as phillumenists. The word phillumeny comes from the Greek words ‘philo’, meaning ‘loving’, and ‘lumen’, meaning ‘light’. The term refers to the hobby of collecting matchbooks, matchboxes, match labels, matchcovers and other related memorabilia.
Collecting matchbooks is an often overlooked field of collecting. It’s even possible to find valuable pieces among matchbooks. Matchbook collectors search for “branded matches,” also known as “private label matches.
” These matchbooks have the matches in them specially made to be used at a certain restaurant, bar, or other place of business. Branded matchbooks can be quite valuable, especially for the more uncommon ones like those from the 1950’s.
Some collectors look for specific colors, graphics, or sayings on matchbooks. Others focus on matchbooks from clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, or resorts that are long gone. Matchbooks often contain unique advertising slogans and artwork as well, which can be of interest to history buffs and cultural enthusiasts.
Beyond matchbooks, many phillumenists collect match boxes, match labels, match safes with strike plates, and even match holders.
How do you display collections on matchbook?
To display collections on matchbook, you will first need to create an account and register your collections. Once you have done that, you can begin to organize them and add pertinent details, such as indicative marks, sizes, dates, and any other information that may be useful for identifying and tracking your collections.
Once your collections are registered and organized, you can display them on matchbook by selecting the “Collections” tab on the main page. From there, you can create and curated groupings of the items, showcase them on your profile, and add them to a user’s particular “Tariff Plan” if desired.
Your collections can also be shared with users through messaging, which is a great way to get more exposure and potentially find new buyers. Additionally, matchbook has a marketplace where users can buy and sell items with other registered matchbook users.
You can contribute collections to the marketplace as well, and can elect to have them featured, which can draw in more potential buyers.
How much are matchbook covers worth?
The price of matchbook covers is varied and dependent on many different factors. Rarity, age, condition, brand, and demand all play a role in determining how much a matchbook cover is worth. From common brands to rare brands, and everything in between, matchbook covers can range from a few cents to hundreds of dollars.
Common matchbook covers in good condition can typically sell anywhere from $1-50, while more rare and limited edition matchbook covers can often bring in hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. A few specialty covers have even sold at auction for over $30,000.
The best way to determine a matchbook cover’s value is to research it thoroughly. Finding the right matchbook cover can be challenging, but with a little bit of research, one can gain an understanding of the history and market value.
There are plenty of resources available, both online and off, to help you find more information on matchbook covers and their values. Additionally, depending on where you look, you can typically also find experts to appraise matchbook covers as well.