The hobby of collecting matchcovers has become very popular in recent years. It is ranked second only to stamp collecting. People from every corner of the globe have a fascination with these colorful paper items. Matchcovers are classified in two categories used and new.
Most collectors collect only new.
A single scratch on the striker reduces the value of the matchcover significantly. Old and new highly collectible matchcovers are rare. Special matchbooks or those that are old or fragile are left intact. These are known in the collecting field as full books. Many collectors seek celebrity matchcovers.