Loren Moore AMCAL 2010

Collecting History a Little Bit at a Time!

Matchbook Covers hold Their Own as an area of Memorabilia Collecting.

If you're not familiar with matchbook cover collecting, you might want to browse this site and see what all the fuss is about. AMCAL is an organization or collector's club that has been around for more than 50 years!

Who knew that when you picked up a book or box of matches from your favorite restaurant that someone out there covets it.

I was at this year's AMCAL Meeting and came face to face with some big time matchbook cover collectors. Loren Moore who acted as president at this year’s meeting was interviewed by The Roseville Press Tribune and revealed how he got so into collecting these little works of art. To quote Loren "it doesn’t have the allure or popularity of collecting coins or baseball cards – stamps even,” Moore said. “But, as with any hobby like this, it’s like collecting history, a little bit at a time.” and therein is the fascination for most collectors.

By the way, Loren represents a little bit of history himself, his resemblance to a California 49er is uncanny!

But, back to Loren, he made a trip to Denio's, which is a Farmer's Meet, and Swap place in Roseville California back in the 70s and saw a matchbook cover collection someone was trying to sell. He was amazed by the matchbooks' artistic quality and detail and was forever hooked on the hobby of collecting matchbook covers! Moore now has probably 200,000 matchbook covers and loves every one of them. That's a lot of love, as there are at least 3,000 different categories.

Loren also said “These match covers give us a glimpse of what life was like back then,” he said.

“I’ve seen and collected some match covers I’m sure some would be considered politically incorrect. Well, that’s how things were back then – that’s how far we’ve come.”

There has been somewhat of a revival in the printing of matchbooks and matchboxes, as even today's businesses recognize there is still a use for matches beyond lighting a cigarette. They are still one of the best forms of advertising as people put your business name in their pocket or purse...and if a collector gets hold of it, who knows where it can go.


Please Take a Look at other Meetings across the country. There just may be one in your neck of the woods and we would love to see you there!