I don't consider myself an "official" matchbook collector, but I have around 100-150 of them that I have collected myself during visits to various places over the past couple of decades. I also have bought a few on various boards and ebay when I see one that interests me, but I never even consider buying one that is just the cover. In fact, I usually don't bother with the ones that have any matches used either.

I guess that's why I don't consider myself an "official" matchbook collecter...I'm too picky about my matchbooks.

Further, I pretty much make personally-collected matchbooks useless to any other collectors by adding a note to the inside of them regarding when and where I was when I collected them...and often what the occasion was and who I was with.

I can hear all the "real" collectors cyber-cringing as I type ;)