Collectible Vintage Matchbooks
Manufacturing of matchbooks peaked during the 1940s and 50s, then steadily declined because of the availability of disposable lighters and various anti-smoking health campaigns.
Although paper matches were patented in the 1880's, an early paper match "folder" was patented in September 1892 by Philadelphia patent attorney American Joshua Pusey, however the matchbook as we know it was patented a few weeks later by Charles Bowman of Lebanon, PA. Pusey challenged Bowman's patent, but Bowman's patent was upheld. Pusey sold his patent to the Diamond Match Trust in 1896 and then served as the company's patent attorney. Bowman's company, the American Safety Head Match Company of Lebanon, PA didn't last long, and Diamond Match Co. adapted his design into their product, becoming the first mass-producer of paper matchbooks.
Collecting of matchboxes (with matches) and matchbooks (w/o ones), as well as matchboxea? Matchlabels and other match-related items is called phillumeny. Visit James Lilek's Matchbook Museum with a gallery of hundreds of matchbooks collected over time and separated by theme.
