The American Matchcover Archive


A digital repository dedicated to the conservation and celebration of the American matchbook cover — a pocket-sized canvas that once served as the primary advertising medium for 20th century commerce. 

We hope to honor this everyday, utilitarian item not merely as ephemera, but as a significant artifact of graphic design history. 

Explore the Archive





Crabby Keepsakes

A collection of crustacean-clad covers.
The Captain’s Table
Los Angeles, California
Jack’s Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge
Niagara Falls, New York
Fisher’s
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oasis Restaurant
Orange, Connecticut
T. Pittari’s
New Orleans, Louisiana
Ocean View
Newport, Rhode Island
Peroni’s Sea Grills
Boston, Massachusetts
Litchfield’s Sea Grill
Boston, Massachusetts
Bookbinders Seafood House Inc.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Union Oyster House
Boston, Massachusetts
New Berkshire Restaurant
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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