What Kind of Covers Should I Collect?

Matchcover collecting is one of the fastest growing hobbies in America today.  Thousands of people from all over the world enjoy the fund and relaxation this educational hobby brings.  Unfortunately businesses don't give away advertising matchbooks much anymore, but whenever you see them, make it a habit to grab some.   At first you'll want to grab any matchbook you see.  Eventually though, you may decide to specialize. If you want to build your collection more quickly, you may also choose to buy covers.  

Some of the most popular categories of matchcovers are listed below:

Banks

This category consists of matchcovers from any financial institution, such as banks, savings and loans or credit unions.

Dated

These covers have a specific date or year printed on them and are usually issued to celebrate a special event or anniversary.  They can also include sports schedules, fairs, political campaigns, etc.

Fraternals

This category includes groups such as the Elks, Moose, Eagles, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, etc.  Most units have a number, so it is easy to group them numberically.

Hotels/Motels

This is probably the most popular collecting category, and includes covers from any establishment which offers lodging for the night.  Hotel chains are very popular; Holiday Inn, TravelLodge, Best Western, and others.

Jewels/Jewelites

Jewels are extra long matchbooks with 30 matches, often beautifully designed.  Jewelites are the same overall size but are die cut to form special shapes such as pizzas or footballs and are very unique!  

Matchoramas

This is Universal's trade name for its matchbooks with full colored photographs.  They are normally the larger 30 or 40-strike size.

Non-Advertising

These are matchbooks which are normally sold in stores or souvenir shops and contain no advertising.  They are often colorful and beautifully designed.

Restaurants

Many restaurants offer matches, so this is one of the most widely collected categories.  Included is any establishment that serves food.

Sets

Two or more matchcovers issued at the same time constitute a set. They can feature different views of a tourist attraction, a series of jokes, or almost anything.

Small Towns

This category is usually defined as matchcovers issued from towns of 2,500 people or less.  Some collectors try to get covers from every small town in a state or the country.

Transportation

Matchcovers in this category include advertising for any means of paid transportation, such as airlines, railroads, taxis, and ship, bus, and truck lines.

U.S. Service

These are covers issued by the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Marine and Navy bases, officers' mess, NCO clubs, PXs, etc.

Matchcovers are also classified by size:

• 20-strike matchbooks are the regular size we see most, and have 20 matchsticks per book.
• 30-strike matchbooks are larger and are also popular.  They have 30 matchsticks per book.
• 40-strike matchbooks (billboards) have 40 matchsticks per book.
• 10-strike matchbooks and matchboxes aren't quite as common, and their uniqueness makes them desirable.