Zippo Manufacturing Company

The Zippo Archive

A collector's reference assembled from first-party Zippo materials, regional distributor pages, and preserved archival catalogs. Three collections below.

Suggestions or corrections? Email to starbellysw+zippo@gmail.com

Collection I

Date Codes

The one-stop reference for reading the stamped markings on the bottom of a Zippo lighter — every era, every code, every year.

Eras: 7
Months: A–L
Span: 1933–now

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Collection II

Catalog Archive

Scanned annual product catalogs — Complete Line, Choice, Harley-Davidson, and specialty editions — available as downloadable PDFs.

Catalogs: 348
Years: 49
Span: 1947–2026

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Collection III

Collectible of the Year

Every annual limited edition since 1992, including regional variants and the 2003–2013 hiatus.

Releases: 36
Years: 24
Span: 1992–2026

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Other Zippo Archives

Independent collector sites that helped source much of this archive.

Additional Resources

Collector guides that go deeper on specific corners of the Zippo world.

kingzendo.com How to identify an authentic Japanese Zippo — Bradford-made bases vs. Japan-market decoration, bottom stamps, inserts, hinges, artwork, numbering and packaging

With Thanks

Collectors who wrote in with corrections and data that made this archive better.

Larry Arroyo Identified the 2024 Florentine as two distinct regional editions, and supplied production figures for the 1992–2000 Collectibles of the Year.