Every collecting hobby has a beginning. Somewhere between the point of origin (when a collector is known as an accumulator and trying to develop a respectable collection), and the day the first dollar is spent on matchcovers, the question, "What kind of matchcovers should I collect?" is frequently asked.

During the incubation period in any new hobby, the collector gravitates to the easiest and most accessible items to find. For the novice, matchcover collecting in the late 1980s, therefore, lends itself to sleeping and eating.

These two broad categories can be further broken down into accommodations for pay, which may encompass hotels, motels, lodges, guesthouses, and bed & breakfasts; and eating establishments, which usually include restaurants, diners, nightclubs, bars, grills, cafeterias, cafes, ethnic restaurants, and chain restaurants.

As the novice becomes better acquainted with the hobby, he/she will sometimes become interested in less accessible categories. Sports matchcovers are very popular right now. Compared to the increasing prices of baseball cards, matchcovers are still surprisingly inexpensive. Another favorite category is military, incorporating the four branches and dozens of sub-categories.

Occasionally, a specific category will appeal to a collector because of work or vocational interests. A truck driver might collect Transportation matchcovers; a musician may seek out VIPs of famous singers and instrumentalists; a draftsman could concern himself with the myriad of geometric patterns found on early matchcovers; a pilot might want to develop a knowledge of airplanes and airline related matchcovers.

During a Virginia snowstorm a few years back, some statistical work on this subject was done. The most popular categories among serious matchcover collectors were observed. For my data, I went to The Front Striker Bulletin roster. It should be noted that a majority of the subscribers to the FSB are interested in the history of matchcover collecting and the match industry in America. Many of them collect older matchcovers, which are still available through trading and purchase. About 200 recepients were surveyed and it came up with the following:

The uncommitted or general collectors accounted for the largest part of the roster, with 25% listing General. The next six spots were filled with all time favorites: Girlies - 34, Railroads - 31, Hotels - 27, Military - 25, Airlines - 20 and Sports - 20.
In the teens were: Ships - 18, Contours - 17, VIP`s - 17, Features - 16, Beer - 15, Navy Ships - 15, Diamond Quality - 14, Group One - 13, Motels - 13, Boxes - 12, Transportation - 12, Odd Strikers - 11 and Banks and Midgets with 10 each.
From six to eight collectors wanted to be known for: Auto - 8, Political - 8, Royal Flash - 7, Dated - 6.

Five collectors each mentioned: Baseball, Full Lengths, Holiday Inn, Tobacco, and World`s Fair.

Four collectors noted: 10-Strike, Crown Match Co., Football, Giants, Safety First, and Ship Lines and Soda. Three counted: Action, Art, Bowling, Colleges, Conventions, Dated Auto, Eddy Quality, Hawaii, Knotholes, Old Hotels, "Perfect 36", Pull Quick, Ramas, Service and Christmas as among their favorites.

In the above list, there are several kinds of matchcovers mentioned. Reference is made to (1.) types, (2.) match companies, and (3.) topics or categories. Although not mentioned here, specific product advertising is also very popular among matchcover collectors. Coca-Cola, 7-UP, Wrigley`s Chewing Gum, and Budweiser Beer just to name a few.

From above: (1.) Matchcover types include Features, "Perfect 36", 10 Strike, Action, Giants, Midgets, Knotholes, Ramas, Contours and Royal Flash. Each of these was specific designs, sizes, or shapes of matchcovers. They were usually Match Company specific, a prodigy of the marketing department. Any kind of advertisement could have been printed on their surfaces.

(2.) Match companies themselves are highly collectible. Such companies include Diamond Quality (Diamond Match Co.), Eddy Quality (Eddy Match Co.), "tall" Federal, Universal & Star, and Crown Match Co. At one time there were over 150 matchbook companies in the United States. Today, there are two.

(3) Topics are most easily recognizable, including Bowling, Hawaii, Railroads, Christmas, World`s Fair, Airlines, Military, and Sports. Each of these can be further subdivided. Sports, for example, would yield specific games such as baseball, football, hockey, and basketball. Further subdivision into professional, college, Olympic, and intramural. Teams, a specific year that teams played, schedules and of course, the players themselves are all part of the magic of sports collectibles.

In addition to the above, there are literally thousands of combinations and permutations involving millions of individual matchcover faces. Besides government ordained collectibles (stamps and coins), more matchcovers were made than any other collectible.

Had this survey been taken during the hobby`s infancy (early 1940s) it would have revealed an entirely different range. In the early days of matchcover collecting some of the categories and types listed above were only glimmers in the eye of match company artists. Other categories and types go back to the beginning of commercial match making. One of the first great matchbook orders taken by a salesman was for Pabst`s Blue Ribbon Beer, an order for 10 million matchbooks. Ever heard of that product?

Like many other hobbies, matchcover collecting has gone through various phases of category and type identification. Match companies invent and discontinue types according to sales. Due to the recent smoking scare, certain industries have stayed away from matchcover advertising, such as hospitals, dentists, and The Red Cross.

As collectors grow with their collections, they take a more serious look into the history of the matchcover itself. They have been known to study the design, advertising, style and motivation of the matchbook customer. Matchcovers have advertised almost every conceivable product known. They were truly the ubiquitous peoples advertising medium.