.

.

Long before the invention of disposable lighters and way before smoking was banned in public places, matchbooks could be found everywhere. Hotels, motels, restuarants, diners, coffeeshops, bars, anywhere you spent money, matchbooks were there for folks to use and to take. They were free. They were advertisements. They were souvenirs. They were colorful and fun to look at. Collecting them was an American pastime.
After looking at a handful of these old matchbooks it's easy to see why they were popular to collect.

.

.

.