On Friday 7th Christine Mouw wrote: >This is my problem: what do I do with the matches? The book is in >such beautiful condition, I hate to remove the matches, but on the >other hand, we're all a touch wary of live matches in our collection. >Has anyone ever read anything on this topic, or has anyone had any >experience with, say, a matchbook collection in a museum collection? >Thanks for your help! If you only have 1 book of matches, then you shouldn't be to concerned. Apart from being deliberately lit, the most likely way in which matches can catch fire are from heat and from friction due to vibration. Because your matches are in a book, vibration shouldn't be a problem, and if you have that much heat in your museum, then you have more important problems to worry about anyway. I wouldn't interfere with the match heads unless they appear to be deteriorating. I would store the match book in a non- combustible box with appropriate warning signs, in a cool, dry dark place. George Bailey Objects Conservator Australian War Memorial Treloar Centre for Conservation 4 Callan St, Mitchell, A.C.T. 2911 Australia Phone: +61 6 241 6122 fax: +61 6 241 7998 email: [log in to unmask]