What does a phillumenist collect?

A phillumenist collects matchboxes, matchbooks, matchbook holders and other match-related collectibles. This hobby is as old as matches are, and phillumenists can find chemical matches from as early as 1810.

While phillumeny has existed as a hobby for centuries, it became popular in the middle of the 20th century. The term "phillumeny" was coined by Marjorie Evans in the 1940s, and phillumenists saw their hobby gain wider recognition after World War II. During the war, many match factories used noted phillumenists as consultants and issued non-advertising sets of match merchandise. In the 1960s, bulky cardboard matchboxes became popular, and more people took interest in the hobby.