What are collectors of match books and match covers called?
If there has been one unhappy consequence of the decline in smoking, perhaps it's been the corresponding decrease in the volume of decorative matchbooks produced. These miniature advertising billboards were given freely by millions of businesses, and were at the height of their use in the early 20th century. Phillumenists, or "lovers of light", sort their ephemeral finds into hundreds of different categories, and display them in a variety of ways. Aficionados know that if a match cover has its striker on the front of the "book", it was probably produced prior to 1978.
More Info:
www.matchcover.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
29 Comments
Faye Green
Have a small collection but hard to get these days
Pat Anne Hughes Everett
I've collected them from my travels, over the years and it is very difficult to find many around these days, unfortunately.
Lynne Zeman
Missed the "lumin" and opted for "bibli" referring to book, as in match"book" ah well.....
Rose Eileen Robinson
I was as a young girl. My aunt got me started on it as she traveled lots
Elsy O. Stromberg
Don't agree that it's an unfortunate consequence.
Joseph A. Robitaille
One of my sisters used to be a phillumenist.
Spike Holmes
Is JOHN Esposito any relative of the late JOSEPH CARMINE ESPOSITO?
Chris Lee
John Esposito, thank you!
Chris Lee
Kevin Dale Streets, it pretty much has to do with the heavy use of tobacco back then, versus now. Less demand for them today, at least in the "Western" world. Any collector would tell you that interesting newer matchbooks are hard to find these days.
Dave Mac
I guessed but missed it.
majohnson
Darla Collins, It's because of his name. His haters are racists.
Vonda Summers
Missed that one.
DannyBoy
Interesting question and explanation. Never heard this before.
Boyd Tracy
Got it wrong but liked,the commentary because I share the sadness from the disappearance of the matchbooks. Would be interesting to know if the cut back in smoking had that much to.do,with it or whether it was more,the advent of,internet promos.
David B. Hecht
The end of smoking didn't end their production. Strict DUI laws did. If the law enforcement officer could determine the bar you were in before you were stopped, they could also hold the bar liable. The easiest way to identify the bar was their custom matchbook covers.