MATCH SAFE WITH INTACT MATCHES

AQUA · Sep 11, 2013

Found this yesterday.

Just curious to its value.... gonna send it to local jeweller to be fixed up..but not too much so it keeps its old look.

Old Dude · Sep 11, 2013

That's a nice chunk of silver and with the contents still there, it's really impressive. Definitely a keepsake to admire.

AQUA · Sep 11, 2013

no info on its value anyone ?

huntsman53 · Sep 11, 2013

It is a nice looking match safe! Before any possible value can be determined, the period in which it was made needs to be known and maker, if there are any makers marks. The Jeweler should be able to help in this area. Are the matches wood or paper? This could also help in determing the age, although the match safe could have been used well past the time when paper matches were introduced. At this point and without some or all of the above, one could only say that it may fetch anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars once there have been some (hopefully unnoticeable) repairs!

Frank

tamrock · Sep 12, 2013

Looks sterling and I would think the jewelry could push it back out again. I'm with huntman53, find out the maker and some place in the house I've got an antique book that gives value on match safes. I'll look to see if yours is in it. They are very collectible. I see a hundred USD fix'd up some. Very nice find.

I tried to find a better accurate value and my book prices them about 3 times more the general value they sell on eBay which is
from $45. to $500.usd for the better sterling ones. They are better known as a 'Vesta Case" The design motif is what I believe collectors focus on and with the two horse heads it could be worth maybe as much as I said $100. up to $300.

if it gets a good resto job on it. I think it looks like ones from around 1890s to 1910s... I'd be happy as hell to have found that with an MD. Looks like a vehicle of some kind ran over, but very restorable.

AQUA · Sep 22, 2013

TY GUYS

Currently looking for a jeweller to fix it up for me.....local guy is too busy..but good news is..he says all the pieces are there and the hinge is working also but looking like will be $150+ to get it fixed up.

Think its well worth it as I really like the piece.

The matches are wood.....