Match

A splint with a match-head.

A piece of rigid material (splint), such as wood or card, tipped with a pyrotechnic composition that can be ignited by friction. There are many types of match such as Lucifer (an early friction match), Congreve (an early friction match), Vesta (a small size of match usually with a wax stem), Fusee, Vesuvian, Flamer (these have a larger head to provide a longer burn time outdoors in windy or other adverse conditions, these include Storm match, Windproof match, Waterproof match, Bengal match, Incense match, Smoke match.

Match striker

An item which is neither a matchbox, matchbook nor match holder but incorporates a surface designed to allow the striking of matches. The term is not to be confused with a striker.

Match wrapper

A printed paper used to wrap a number of matches.  Such labels are very old and rare.  Most match wrappers contained matches that did not need the special striking surface on a matchbox such as sulphur matches.  Some match wrappers enclosed a piece of striking surface with the matches.  Use the full term match wrapper (rather than just wrapper) to avoid confusion with matchbox wrapper; dozen wrapper; or gross wrapper.

Match-head

The dried chemical mixture on the head of a splint.

Match-head paper

Match-head paper (label) are a type of Insert. Typically used in Swedish matchboxes. These are small rectangular pieces of paper, usually part printed and part plain, and folded into an “L” shape and placed within “sliding drawer” matchboxes, at one end of the inner and cover the match heads.

Matchbook

A folded card enclosing a comb of bookmatches fixed to it.  See also matchbook cover.

Matchbook cover

The part of a matchbook that contains bookmatches.  The commonly collected part of a matchbook with bookmatches and staple removed and unfolded flat.

Matchbook holder

The standard term for a device to hold or encase a matchbook whilst allowing its use within the matchbook holder.

Matchbox

A term for any type of box that was intended to contain matches and last long enough for the matches to be used. The most common type of matchbox consists of an outerbox and innerbox. See also fliptop, pillbox.

Matchbox holder

The standard term for a device to hold or encase a matchbox whilst allowing its use within the matchbox holder.

Matchbox inner

See innerbox

Matchbox label

The standard term to describe a label intended to be fixed to a matchbox, usually the outerbox.

Matchbox outer

See outerbox

Matchbox top

The part of an outerbox with a single panel matchbox label attached.

Matchbox wrapper

A printed sheet intended to wrap a single matchbox. Use the full term matchbox wrapper (rather than just wrapper) to avoid confusion with match wrapper; dozen wrapper; or gross wrapper.

Matchcase

A match holder for strike-anywhere matches incorporating a permanent striking surface and designed to be carried safely in a pocket.

Matchcover

A name often used for the standard term of matchbook cover.

Matchlabel

A label intended for labelling matches. Hence this term includes: matchbox labels; dozen labels; dozen wrappers; gross labels; gross wrappers; and case labels.

Matchsafe

An American term for matchcase.

Mint

A mint matchlabel is one that has never been put on a matchbox or packet. A mint skillet is one that has never been formed into an outerbox. A mint matchlabel or skillet may have come direct from the printers rather than a match factory. A matchlabel or skillet described as mint implies that used ones do exist. See also collectors’ labels.

Mint is not to be confused with mint condition which applies to matchbooks and matchbook covers.

Mint condition

A mint condition matchbook cover or matchbook has to be in pristine condition with the striker unused and unmarked. See also flat.

Mint condition is not to be confused with mint which applies to matchlabels.