Call Number:

3858

Repository:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Extent:

0.2 linear feet (; 241 items)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Collection of matchbook covers from Pennsylvania establishments (Collection 3858), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Date:

circa 1890, circa 1930-1980

Donor:

Mazzatto, Michael.

Abstract:

This is a collection of approximately 241 matchbook covers dating from around the 1930s to the 1980s from various businesses from across Pennsylvania. Many originated from restaurants, clubs, hotels, and bars, but other types of establishments are represented as well, such as coal dealerships, insurance agencies, and dry cleaners. The majority of them contain business names and addresses, and some display colorful and ornate advertisements, cartoons, pinups, and logos.

The matchbooks had been roughly arranged in alphabetical order by city names, and that arrangement has been maintained, along with the their original housing in acid-free sleeves. They are also all flattened and the matches in each have been removed. Many of them retain their originals strikes (the strip that is used to light the matches), but on some the strikes have been cut off. The cities represented in the collection cover the whole state, from Pittsburg to Philadelphia. This collection also contains a single trade card from the late 1800s for F. B. Rossiter, a maker of window shades in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.