October 6, 2008
Match holders (safes) date back to the mid 19th century, when matches were sold in cardboard or wood boxes which often suffered from accidental ignition. Originally made from converted snuffboxes with rough surfaces for striking, match holders soon became a staple of craftsmen everywhere. The three basic types (wall mounted, free-standing, and pocket holders) were manufactured in many styles and materials for the next hundred years.
This ambitious site showcases the 20,000-item Rankei Library matchbook collection, owned by the Japan Match Manufac… [more]
Don Wearmouth and his wife showcase the 230 beautiful silk designs that were distributed free with Kensitas cigaret… [more]
This classy looking British site features hundreds of high resolution photos of antique porcelain pre-war (enamel) … [more]
Jane McDevitt's huge Flickr photoset of matchbox labels, primarily Eastern European, from the 1950s and 60s. These … [more]
This gallery of cigarette magazine advertising from the 1940s and 50s contains no surgeon general's warning, just p… [more]
James Lileks' gallery of 250 matchbooks from coffee shops, hotels, motels, bars, banks, restaurants and more. Lilek… [more]
Puff on this... over 1,000 cigar bands from the 1890s through 1920s, organized into themed galleries such as Portra… [more]
Got a site to suggest? Let us know.
Are we missing one? Tell us.
Early Stieff Sterling Match Safe Matchsafe Floral Rose$317.12 Ends Saturday 17 bids
19c Sterling Silver Figural Elks Tooth Match Safe Vesta$300.00 Ends Wednesday 9 bids
Mint Kerr Vesta Sterling Silver Fireman Match Safe$243.50 Ends Tuesday 7 bids
Vintage Sterling Silver Match Safe Vesta Devil W/wings!$207.50 Ends Thursday 6 bids
Vintage Japanese Pod Match Safe Not Repro Brianthelion$150.00 Ends Wednesday 2 bids
C19th Counter Gas Lighter Match Safe Cigar Pipe $140.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids
Vintage 1959 Coca Cola Coke Match Holder Dispenser Mint$129.26 Ends Thursday 9 bids
Early 19th C. Bronze Match Holder+striker Fox+rabbit $124.50 Ends Saturday 5 bids
Stunning 1880s Japanese Vesta Match Safe Oni Figural$115.00 Ends in 4 hours 1 bid
1250: Garland Stoves And Ranges Tin Match Holder$100.00 Ends Saturday 2 bids
Sterling Silver Vintage Match Holder Safe Vesta $100.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
1252: Mothers Worm Syrup Tin Match Holder$100.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid
1261: Ansted And Burk Co. Tin Match Holder$100.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid
1263: Moss Rose Flour Tin Match Holder$100.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid
1265: Ceresota Embossed Tin Match Holder$100.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid
Vintage Sterling Silver Whiting Match Safe Vesta Clover$96.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids
19c Figural Silverplate Railroad Watch Match Safe Vesta$85.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid
Vintage Figural Brass Horseshoe Shaped Match Safe Vesta$85.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid
Johnson Viking Match Box (small One)$80.99 Ends Saturday 5 bids
English Sterling Ribbed Glass Match Striker Holder 1890$78.00 Ends Friday 4 bids
Antique Figural Gen. Benjamin Harrison Match Safe Vesta$76.00 Ends Sunday 3 bids
Anheuser Busch Brass Brewery Match Safe$75.00 Ends Wednesday 11 bids
Vintage Figural Gun Shape Match Safe Vesta Cigar Cutter$75.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid
Wallace Sterling Silver Mermaid Seaman Match Safe$70.00 Ends Tuesday 7 bids
Continental Silver Figural Pig Vesta Case Match Safe$65.15 Ends Sunday 10 bids
Antique Vintage Brass Match Safe Vesta ~ Elephant$56.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids
Old Keuffel & Esser Pocket Compass & Marbles Match Safe$56.00 Ends Wednesday 11 bids
Slim Silver Vesta Case Match Safe Art Nouveau 1905 Gwh$54.99 Ends in 3 hours 9 bids
Japanese Geisha & Fighting Cocks Vesta Match Safe C1880$54.98 Ends in 1 hour 2 bids
Anheuser Busch Brewing Assoc.silver Plated Match Safe$52.00 Ends in 3 hours 2 bids
Rare Hotel Cheyenne Lodge Syracuse China Match Holder$51.00 Ends in 6 hours 5 bids
2 Antique Fancy Sterling Silver Vesta Match Safes *nr*$51.00 Ends Wednesday 11 bids
Egyptian Obelisk Figural Silver Plate Vesta Match Safe$51.00 Ends in 3 hours 7 bids
1260: Old Hickory Wagons Tin Match Holder$50.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid
Ornate Sterling Silver Match Safe Woman W/flowers$49.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid
Ca1900 Harvard Brewing Tin Lithograph Match Holder Beer$47.00 Ends Monday 8 bids
Antique Celluloid Art Nouveau Match Safe Fairy Nymph Nr$46.50 Ends Thursday 4 bids
Neat Schafer & Vater Figural Man Cigarette Match Holder$46.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids
Scarce 1908 Deldare "fallowfield Hunt" Match Holder$46.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids
Cast Iron Match Safe - Marked 1869-1870$43.00 Ends in 8 hours 12 bids
Solid Sterling Silver Vintage Heart Match Safe Holder$42.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid
N O S Harley Davidson Oil Can Match Box$41.01 Ends Wednesday 6 bids
1901 Vintage Curved Sterling Silver Vesta Match Safe Nr$41.00 Ends in 53 mins 10 bids
Nickle Plated Iron Counter Top Souvenir Match Box$40.00 Ends in 9 hours 1 bid
Pre-budweiser Anheuser Busch Brewing Assn. Match Safe !$39.21 Ends Wednesday 4 bids
Edwardian Hm Sterling Silver Vesta Case Match Safe 1904$39.12 Ends Tuesday 7 bids
Interesting Victorian Silver Match Safe Vesta Case Nr!$37.25 Ends Thursday 4 bids
Estonia Russian Silver Niello Matchbox Match Holder$37.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids
Antique Sterling Silver Match Safe - England$37.00 Ends in 20 hours 3 bids
Sterling Art Nouveau Match Safe Case$35.65 Ends Thursday 5 bids
Sterling Silver Vesta Case Match Safe Makers Mark ?$34.80 Ends Tuesday 6 bids
Rare Queen Victoria Vulcanite Match Vesta (safe)$33.71 Ends Monday 3 bids
Self - Closing Match Safe Patent 1864 Cast Iron$32.88 Ends Tuesday 8 bids
Wm Cowan Ltd.distillers Belfast Match Holder Striker$32.00 Ends Wednesday 2 bids
French Cafe Advertising Match Holder Striker Mugnier$32.00 Ends Saturday 4 bids
Victorian Silver Vesta Match Safe Birmingham 1898$31.91 Ends in 2 hours 8 bids
German Porcelain Girl Cat Match Holder Striker Figurine$31.55 Ends Thursday 3 bids
