I’m not a matchbook collector, per se, but if I were a phillumenist, I’d definitely collect Feature Matches. When it comes to little scraps of advertising ephemera, these clever and colorful matchbooks with pictures on the actual matches are matchless!
In this wacky world of collecting that we inhabit, it’s almost impossible to go through a flea market without encountering some vintage matchbooks for sale, and they’re usually affordably priced, often a dollar or less. Always drawn to advertising of any sort, I will usually glance at the matchbooks. However, it was only about three years ago that my eyes were really opened to a particular type of matchbook, the Feature Match.
In the United States, “Feature” was a trademarked name for the matchbooks containing wide match sticks that were printed with lettering and/or designs. The trademark was held by the Lion Match Company of Chicago, Illinois, and, indeed, every Feature matchbook I look at has that company’s name on it.
According to my research, Feature matches were introduced in September 1930. Although I can’t find any definitive confirmation of my theory, I suspect that the first Feature matchbooks were oversized. For instance, this Giant Feature Match Book for GE has several patent dates printed behind the row of matches. The earliest one is 1, 733, 258, which correlates to the patent being issued in 1929. The last patent on it is 1, 839,846, which would have been issued early in 1932. The matchbook measures approximately 3 ¼ by 4 ½.
Here’s another great Giant Feature Match Book that is actually dated June 18, 1936. It promotes the fight between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling being broadcast on NBC Radio and sponsored by Buick. Above the row of matches depicting a man peeking through a knothole in the fence are the words, “Ladies and Gentlemen – THE WINNAH!” What he sees behind the fence is a 1936 Buick. This is a great example of a crossover collectible. It appeals to collectors of sports memorabilia, radio memorabilia, automotive memorabilia, and, yes, matchbooks. As you can imagine, it’s worth more than the average Feature matchbook, most of which seem to be priced between $5 and $20.
As far as matchbook history goes, most sources give credit to Philadelphia lawyer Joshua Pusey for patenting the matchbook in 1892. The Diamond Match Company purchased the rights to the patent in 1894. The concept of using the matchbooks as a means of advertising was a bit slow to take off. Then, in 1902, Diamond Match Company salesman H. C. Traute got an order for 10 million matchbooks from the Pabst Brewing Company. This is considered the first large-scale order.
Traute also came up with the words so familiar on practically every matchbook: Close Cover Before Striking.
The 1930’s, 40’s, and 50’s are considered the Golden Age of matchcovers. Billions upon billions were made, and they advertised EVERYTHING. The Lion Match Company’s timing with its Feature matches was perfect.
Sometime in the late 1930’s or early 1940’s, the Feature matchbooks became smaller in size. This “Win With Wendell Willkie” is a very desirable matchbook because, in addition to the feature matches that show ordinary American citizens, it is also a “Display” matchbook with a “pop-out” photo of Willkie on the inside cover. It’s the size of a standard matchbook.
Slightly larger (2 inches wide instead of 1 ½) is the book of Leopold Morse matches. This, too, is a Feature Display matchbook with a lot of patriotic fervor. Apparently Leopold Morse was a congressman, but, more importantly, he sold men’s clothes.
Beyond this, I will let the matchbooks themselves do the explaining. Obviously, with Feature matches, the key is to find a “full book.” While collectors of ordinary matchbooks will often remove the matches and display the matchbook flattened out, collectors of Feature matches want every match to be in place and in good condition. Also note that some of the matchbooks, such as the ones for Manners Big Boy and the 1955 Pontiac, are not straight-sided but have extensions out the sides. These are Contour Feature matches, and they are even more desirable.
I loved reading your website. I first started collecting feature matchbooks after having seen a vintage Coca-Cola matchbook that was selling for (are you ready for this?) $1000!
Of course, I didn’t buy that one, but I did start picking some up a few dollars. I have over 200 books, and I am always looking for more. My favorite ones are: Random House Publishing (which has 2 rows of books where you can read the titles of each book), Mr. Peanut, Sunoco, and many of the hotel books from Florida and Atlantic City. It’s such a fun hobby, always looking for that one book that you didn’t know existed!
Thanks for your nice comment, Bonnie. It’s always great to hear from a fellow collector. As you can tell, we’re all over the place in our collecting interests, but advertising items have always appealed to Jim and me. I’m sure I stumbled upon feature matches early on when we were going to big collector shows, and when you mentioned having a Mr. Peanut example, it suddenly occurred to me that we do, too. Back in the 1970’s, we were heavily into collecting Planters stuff and picked up everything we could find. We also collected a lot of Coca-Cola stuff, but, alas, never came across that $1000 matchbook! However, about three years ago or so, a dealer in a local antique co-op that I frequent turned up a bunch of oddball feature matches and was pricing them at $2 and $3. I found them so intriguing that I scooped up almost every one he had. Then I checked on the value of them on eBay, and, voila!, my eyes were opened. They are the perfect collectible for people who love advertising but have limited space and a limited budget. I’m sure you get frustrated if you go to yard sales and flea markets because they don’t show up all that frequently. However, there’s never any shortage of them on eBay. Happy collecting!
Enjoyed reading your website. I guess you could say I’m an unknowing collector. When my father passed away years ago I ended up cleaning some things out of his garage. Before and after WW II my father was a traveling salesman. He collected matchbooks from all over the country. I ended up with coffee cans full of old matches. I recently started going through them and they are great. Think my favorite was from a Hawaii theme lounge that when you open the book a girl in a grass skirt pops out! Very colorful! I’m interested in selling all of them to someone who can appreciate them. Can you give me some advice of where to go? Thank you
I have several match book covers some quite dated. looking for someone in the chicago area that would be interested in buying the whole collection.
Hello I recently was given about 200 match books and about 30 match boxes. Where can I go to research them. Some look really old. I also have 16 NFL team match boxes.
Hi collectors. A good place to start would be the Rathkamp Matchcover Society webpage at http://www.matchcover.org
The 75th annual convention takes place in Bethlehem Pennsylvania in August 2015.