I have lost the post from the original person. This topic has been 
discussed on museum-l before. Check the archives for some good 
advice, especially from Henry B. Crawford. Also, the topic has been 
discussed on the registrar's list. I have saved some of the 
responses. Contact me off-list for more information.
Pat Miller

At 07:15 PM 7/28/2006, you wrote:
>I agree that this is a good idea. It's the cover that's important 
>and..while perusing some websites, this appears to be the norm among 
>collectors and doesn't appear to be something that would devalue the 
>collection 
><http://matchcover.org/index.html>http://matchcover.org/index.html . 
>I don't know if that would be the case if a cover turns out to be 'rare'.
>
>Perhaps even cutting the heads off the matches -like with a paper 
>cutter, would also be an alternative.
>
>Pam
>
>
>In a message dated 7/28/2006 11:27:04 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>I empty any matchbooks we receive by removing the staple that holds the
>strips of matches.  The match & tobacco collectors I know remove matches
>and keep the covers.  I know it's altering an artifact but I sleep easier.
>
>John Marks
>Geneva Historical Society
>
>
>Pamela Silvestri, Seasonal Interpretive Guide
>Northeast States Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
>Connecticut State Department of Environmental Protection
>State Parks Division
>Shenipsit State Forest Headquarters
>166 Chestnut Hill Road
>Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076
>Telephone: (860) 684-3430
>e-mail: [log in to unmask] or
>[log in to unmask]
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Illinois Heritage Association
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