Are you interested in matchsafes, breweriana, orientalia, fraternal orders, black memorabilia, Native Americans, royalty and politicians, risquS themes, sports, advertising, heraldry, gambling, and late-nineteenth and early twentieth century art forms? One medium that has captured all the above is matchsafes, presented here as a microcosm of life and art from 1840 to 1920. Nearly 2,000 matchsafes have been captured in exquisite detail in 398 color photographs by Gordon Deas. Each is described with details of its pertinent artist, patentee, manufacturer, materials, construction, and value, all complementing the brief and conversational general text. This definitive book is organized according to these interests to provide hours of enjoyment and a source you will return to again and again.

From the end of the Civil War until the explosive popularity of the cigarette in the early twentieth century. the cigar was king. For the pleasure and convience of cigar smokers a wide variety of smoking accessories were manufactured, including cigar cutters and lighters. The cutters range from simple vest pocket models to ingenious mechanical contraptions that would occupy a prominent place on the counter of the local tobacconist. In between are beautifully sculpted Vienna bronze and wooden desk models. In many cases these are combined with lighters, to offer the smoker full-service convenience. The lighters range from alcohol dips to electric devices. They are sometimes cast as stunning figures or are elegantly formed lamps, using blown glass or pierced tin. Beautiful color photographs document these wonderful objects, accompanied by concise, informative descriptions. The text places the cutters in their historical context and contains helpful information. A value guide is included.