May 2, 2003

I checked Google and found this at
http://www.matchcover.org/hobby.html which I have reprinted in its
entirety.  For an amazing amount of info and great pictures, check
out the website.  The fourth paragraph has what we're talking about.

==========

The Hobby in General

  One of the nicest gifts for any person from age six to senior
citizen is a fun-filled and satisfying hobby. We think the best hobby
is matchcover collecting...for many reasons. There are no
  set rules that have to be followed, for example, if you are
collecting for your own enjoyment; it's comparatively inexpensive;
trading by mail allows you to set up an entire network of eyes
  and ears, all looking out for your collecting interests; and you
meet and/or correspond with so many great people. On top of
everything else, it's very educational. History, geography,
  politics, business, county and state administrative structure, and
so much more...they're all packed into those little pieces of
cardboard.

  The serious phillumenist (as matchcover collectors are called) sets
up rules for shows and swapfests, creates checklists on various types
of covers, and often is highly specialized. To enjoy
  the hobby, you need not do any of the above - just enjoy the part of
the hobby you have decided to pursue.

  There are ways to collect that can be rather expensive, as well as
types of collecting which are as inexpensive as simply asking your
friends and relatives to pick up matchbooks for you
  whenever they can . Matchcovers are normally collected unused.
Approximately 95% of collectors normally strip the matches out.. The
covers can be mounted in photo albums, scrapbook
  albums, commercial matchbook albums, or even kept in cigar boxes or
other containers that will prevent the covers from becoming torn or
lost while still keeping them in an orderly manner.

  Most collectors today prefer to take the matches out of the covers
for ease of storage in boxes or albums. The exception to this is
covers where the matches have printing or pictures on
  them; these covers are usually left intact. Matchbox collectors seem
to be about evenly split as to leaving boxes intact or separating
them where the two sides of the box overlaps so they can
  be mounted in albums.

  The most widely used albums are simple 3-ring binders with special
pages designed for matchcovers. In the early days, many collectors
actually hand sewed their own pages. Then the
  pre-cut, slotted pages came into use. Most collectors today,
however, are switching over to plastic pages with pockets designed to
hold specific sizes of matchcovers.

  Matches can be fairly easily removed from recent covers if care is
taken. Most collectors prefer to leave the covers intact if they come
across older covers where the striker portion shows
  obvious signs of discoloration. The act of removing the matches from
the cover would probably destroy the striker in the process. In any
event, it is better to develop your skills in removing
  matches from the covers before you start to strip those covers you
want in your collection.

  When trading covers, "Nationals" (national advertising
covers--McDonald's, Pizza Hut, generic Holiday Inns, etc., with no
specific address) are normally not wanted by fellow traders.
  Traders usually swap on a one-for-one basis, anywhere from 10-100+
covers at a time. Used covers are almost always frowned upon as
trading material, although it is okay to send used
  covers if your trader has previously agreed that he or she will take them.

==========

-Jim

--
Jim Lyons
[log in to unmask]
http://www.jimlyons.com

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).