Information on the Matchcover Collecting Hobby

About the Hobby

FAQs

• What kind of matchcovers should I collect?
• How much money are my matchcovers worth? 
• How to I buy or sell covers?
• How do I remove the staples and make my matchcovers flat?
• What should I do with full matchbooks and matchboxes?

Useful Articles 

• Extensive Library of Collecting Articles
  Mike Prero, the most prolific author in the hobby, has posted hundreds of his articles here. They were written for several club newsletters he has edited for years. Thanks, Mike, for sharing this very useful resource!
• Basic Training In Trading
• How to Get Covers
• Classifying Your Covers
• "Inside Secrets" for Getting Covers
• Beginner's Guide to Phillumeny
  A nice introduction to matchbox label and matchcover collecting from the British Matchbox Label and Booklet Society.

Classic "Match Tips" Articles for New Collectors

We are proud to help Bill Thomas' folksy insights and expertise live on by sharing some of his vintage "Match Tips" articles. They are reprinted with permission.

• How to Get Started in Matchcover Collecting
• How to Prepare Matchcover Displays for Competition
• How To Build Your Collection
• Tips On Trading Some Resolutions For Collectors
• Miscellaneous Ramblings
• Wish Lists, Flattening & Storing & Conventions

Conventions, Swapfests and Other Hobby Happenings

• RMS (Rathkamp Matchcover Society) Annual Convention
  This is the "big one". 

Fun and Unique

• Match Rockets
  You've shucked all your covers and now have bunches of extra matchsticks. Why not make them into little matchstick rockets?  It's fun and makes an educational science project demonstrating the physics of propulsion. Just remember "safety first".
• Matchstick Marvels Museum
  This museum displays incredible works of sculpture art constructed entirely of wooden matchsticks. Some works contain over a half million matchsticks.