When it comes to dating matchbook covers it can be difficult.  Sometimes you can get lucky and the date is right there printed on the cover, but if not, how can you narrow the possibilities? 

TIPS ON DATING MATCH COVERS:

• RESEARCHING A COMPANY CAN TELL YOU THE YEARS OF THEIR OPERATION, WHETHER IT'S THE MATCH COMPANY / DISTRIBUTOR ITSELF OR THE SUBJECT ON THE COVER.

• FRONT STRIKERS ARE BASICALLY PRE 1973 AND BACK STRIKERS ARE USUALLY POST 1973.

• MATCH COMPANIES OFTEN USED TRADEMARK SAYINGS AND STYLES, LIKE THE FAMOUS "DIAMOND QUALITY".  WE KNOW THAT THESE WERE ISSUED BETWEEN THE MID 1920s TO THE MID 1930s.  RESEARCHING A COMPANIES TRADEMARK IN THE FOOTER LINE OR UNIQUE STYLE CAN HELP NARROW DOWN THE SPAN OF TIME THE COVER WAS MANUFACTURED IN.

• THE USPS ZIP CODE SYSTEM BEGAN JULY 1, 1963.

• THE FIRST TELEPHONE LISTINGS WERE JUST NAMES; TWO LETTER PREFIX CODES ASSIGNED TO FOUR DIGIT NUMBERS ARE CIRCA 1928-1958; IN LARGER CITIES THREE LETTER PREFIX CODES ASSIGNED TO FOUR DIGIT NUMBERS ARE POST 1942; THE SEVEN DIGIT, ALL NUMBER DIALINGS PHASE-IN BEGAN IN 1958; VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE USA TELEPHONE NETWORK COMPLETED CONVERTING TO ALL DIGIT BY 1985.

LASTLY DO YOUR HOMEWORK.  ASK OTHER ADVANCED COLLECTORS AND LEARNED DEALERS QUESTIONS.  JOIN CLUBS AND DO INTERNET SEARCHES.  THERE ARE SOME GREAT PHILLUMENY GLOSSARIES ONLINE THAT PROVIDE LOADS OF INFO. ON MATCH COMPANY HISTORIES.

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN COLLECTING AND MOST OF ALL BE PATIENT.  YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PINPOINT EVERY COVERS ORIGIN BUT HEY, THAT'S PART OF THE FUN AND CHALLENGE OF THE HOBBY!