Well one hobby I had when young was collecting these matchboxes. It was rumored that collecting 1000 unique ones would unlock something and gave rise to a rat race, this is pre Indian internet and no one really knew what it would unlock. I would look into the dirtiest of places against my family's protests.
A variant of the iconic 'Ship' called 'Shib', probably a misprint was the most prized possession. When I rethink this, it seems the poor man's version of baseball cards or other collectibles but as fun, a jugaad fun activity in times of extreme scarcity
Me and my friends collected, traded and also played a game with stone by staking match box covers. The idea is everyone stakes match box covers in a small circle drawn on an open ground. Everyone then takes turn to throw stone at the pile. Whichever match cover that’s dislodged out of the circle belongs to the thrower. Also played it with cigarette packet covers.
Fun times
I remember doing that too as an 90s kid. Also, collected 100s of maha-lacto wrappers for gifts.
Makes sense actually — if everything is identical by design, the only thing that makes one copy different from another is the mistake. Rarity has to come from somewhere.
Ohh I remember this, collecting and trading. Got a earful from mother for going near garbage in search of these, that was the end of it.