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Key Details & IdentificationThe Logo:The gold illustration on the front features the Trylon and Perisphere, which served as the iconic modernist architectural focal points of the exposition.
The Timeline:The fair originally opened in 1939 with the theme "The World of Tomorrow". It was extended for a second season into 1940 with a more patriotic tone focused on peace and freedom due to the onset of World War II.Function: This plastic container is designed to firmly hold a standard box of safety matches, keeping them protected while leaving the strike pad exposed along the bottom orange rim.
Patent & Design HistoryThe Patent: U.S. Patent No. 1,985,751 was filed by German inventor Max Vogel and officially granted on December 25, 1934.The Purpose: Vogel engineered this design specifically to solve the safety flaws of traditional paper matchbooks. It keeps flexible book matches protected from bending, breaking, or getting damp in pockets, while preventing stray sparks from accidentally igniting the entire book when lighting a match.
How It Functions: A standard paper matchbook slides down into the inner sleeve. The bottom orange lip is a deliberate cutout area, keeping the striking strip exposed. The top clasp and internal spring keep the lid securely shut over the vulnerable match heads.
Condition & Collector ValueHaving the top plastic clasp fully intact is a massive plus for its value. Because these were made of early injection-molded plastics, the tiny tension tabs on the lid or clasp commonly snapped off over decades of use.All of these are NOS.
No match books are includedThe one in the picture is for display only
There are two styles. This sale included one each of the two styles. You get 2 total match book holders shipped free of charge
