Matchcovers - Matchbook Covers

Matchcovers - Matchbook Covers

2 OLD ALABAMA HOTEL/MOTEL MATCHCOVERS US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 15:00:12 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list 2 OLD IOWA/LOUISIANA RESTAURANT MATCHCOVERS US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 15:00:21 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list 5 OLD INDIANA HOTEL/RESTAURANT MATCHCOVERS US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 15:00:34 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list 7 OLD KENTUCKY HOTEL/MOTEL MATCHCOVERS US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 15:00:48 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list 9 OLD MATCHCOVERS FROM MARK TWAIN HOTEL IN ELMIRA, NY US $1.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 15:01:05 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list VINTAGE OLD MATCHCOVERS US $8.99 End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 16:35:11 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list 1995 AMCC Girlie Set #4 Matchcovers--Elizabeth NJ US $7.29 End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 17:12:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $7.29 Buy it now | Add to watch list Lot of 40 VINTAGE FS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB MATCHCOVERS L1 US $9.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 18:20:48 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list Lot of 40 VINTAGE FS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB MATCHCOVERS L2 US $9.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 18:25:39 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list Lot of 40 VINTAGE FS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB MATCHCOVERS L3 US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Sep-03-2010 18:31:03 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list RSS integration by RSSinclude

CLASSIC AMERICAN DINERS Diner Postcards & Matchcovers US $35.95 End Date: Wednesday Sep-29-2010 12:32:07 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $35.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list 10 Old 1930's PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Football Matchcovers US $24.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Sep-08-2010 12:44:32 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list Vintage 1945-49 Dog Matchcovers 25 Total 5 Sets US $24.99 End Date: Wednesday Sep-08-2010 18:13:04 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $24.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list 87 matchbooks matchcovers Bermuda Florida California US $24.99 End Date: Saturday Sep-11-2010 5:41:35 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $24.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list 40 UNITED STATES MILITARY MATCHCOVERS - 40 STRIKE US $22.75 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Sep-05-2010 14:22:01 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list Vintage 1950-58 Superior Safety 35 Matchcovers 7 Sets US $19.99 End Date: Wednesday Sep-08-2010 18:10:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list 50 GIRLIE PIN UP MATCHCOVERS + BONUS GIRLS US $19.95 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Sep-05-2010 14:16:01 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list 1950s-70s Pages of 101 20S Penna. Bank Matchcovers US $17.69 End Date: Sunday Sep-05-2010 17:26:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.69 Buy it now | Add to watch list 1942 WWII ERA COKE COLA MATCHCOVERS ARKANSAS COLD DRINK US $17.50 End Date: Saturday Oct-02-2010 12:25:29 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list 1942 WWII COKE COLA MATCHCOVERS ARKANSAS COLD DRINKS LT US $17.50 End Date: Saturday Oct-02-2010 12:25:32 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list RSS integration by RSSinclude

With matches made for his personal use, Joshua Pusey, a Philadelphia lawyer and patent attorney, is credited with the first matchbook in 1889. Pusey sold his patent to the Diamond Match Co. for $4,000 in 1896. The earliest known commercial advertising on matchbooks was about 1900. In the late 1920s, tens of thousands of advertisers used matchbooks and they are were the most popular advertising format in America.

Advertisers used matchcovers to promote every aspect of business including airlines, banks, nightclubs, hotels, political, railroad and restaurants.

Despite the commercial decline of matchbook sales, matchcover collecting is still alive and well in America.

The Diamond Match Company was established in 1881 and Barberton, Ohio became the site of the first Diamond matchbook factory. In the late 1870's, strong competition had arisen in the match industry. In the interest of continued success for all the match companies the two biggest match producers in the country Swift, Courtney and Beecher, of Wilmington, Delaware and the Barber Match Company, of Akron, Ohio decided to consolidated and form the Diamond Match Co.

Diamond took over 85% of the match market, virtually controlling the entire industry. Diamond had plants all over the country. Matches were made in Springfield, Massachusetts, Oswego, New York, Barberton, Ohio, and Chico, California.

By the late 1800s the production figures exceeded 150,000 matchbooks a day. Diamond's objective was to produce a quality matchbook for sale to the public. The first Diamond matchbooks assembled were a dangerous and flimsy novelty.