On any given day, about one in eight Americans eats a delectable slice (or two, or three) of pizza.

Once the pie is gone, most people toss their pizza boxes. But pizza aficionado Scott Wiener of New York City doesn't just seek out a good pie; he seeks out the boxes they come in.

Wiener has about 750 pizza boxes from around the world, many of which are featured in his new book, "Viva la Pizza!: The Art of the Pizza Box" (Melville House).

Wiener's obsession started when he was traveling in Israel seven years ago, where he saw pizza boxes much different from what he was used to in the States. "Just seeing something that's a familiar image with an unfamiliar presentation totally rocked me," he told CBS News' Serena Altschul.

Then he started collecting box after box.

The caricature of a smiling mustachioed chef has been a popular feature of pizza boxes for decades. Sources say it dates back to the 1950s, to a hand-painted sign on the roof of Schaller's Drive-In in Rochester, N.Y., though some claim it dates back even before World War II.

Freeport Paper on Long Island produces about 10 million pizza boxes a week, and ships them all over the world.

"In the early years, there was always an old-fashioned pizza guy with a big mustache in front of the box," said Gil Korine, the president of Freeport Paper. "In more recent years, it kind of went into more of a cafe design."

A romantic Italian street scene graces this pizza box.

Roma Foods produced this Valentine's Day-themed pizza box c. 1996.

Domino's was said to be the first to design the corrugated pizza box that was durable and kept cheese from sticking to the top. Since then, Domino's has produced many variations, including this "Game Night" box complete with Connect 4 and playing pieces.

A pizza box from Karachi, Pakistan.

A pizza box from Adelaide, Australia.

This custom pizza box from a fast-food shop in Kazakhstan promises they are open "7/24" and that they "work without days off."

A slice of Bangkok, Thailand.

Seran Altschul asked, "Are you a pizza fanatic?"

"I prefer the term enthusiast," laughed Scott Wiener. "I feel like 'fanatic,' there's maybe something emotionally wrong with you?"

"So you're saying this isn't an obsession?"

"It's definitely an obsession, but I think there are healthy obsessions and unhealthy obsessions. Hoarding is an unhealthy thing, [whereas] this brings joy to people around me."

One German pizzeria's "hot & crazy" menu.

For more info:

Scott's Pizza Journal

Scott's Pizza Tours

Follow Scott's Pizza Tours on Twitter and Facebook

"Viva la Pizza!: The Art of the Pizza Box" by Scott Wiener (Melville House); Also available in eBook, Kindle and PDF Formats

Freeport Paper Industries, Central Islip, N.Y.

        
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan