The Match Book

The Match Book showcases a collection of over 150 matchbooks collected by Randy Shaw, founder of the Tenderloin Museum [in San Francisco]. Mucho designed the book to showcase the fronts and backs of the collection at actual size. The cover is constructed from craft paper, foil stamped and blind embossed with a typical matchbook shape. The spine of the book is created from strike material so it can be used to light a match.

Rather than attempt to mimic the vintage lettering or typography of the matchbooks featured within the book, Mucho opted for a purely contemporary approach for the cover and typeface choices. The title is set in SangBleu Empire, whose sparkling contrast and angular details play up the foil stamping. The plainspoken Suisse Int’l, also from Swiss Typefaces, is used throughout, allowing the imagery to take center stage and not competing with their own eclectic letterforms. I like the choices — the only thing that could improve them is if they sourced typefaces made in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Overall, the book is a beautiful thing, with a great lay-flat binding that you really need to experience in person.