A Vesta case is a small, portable box / safe to carry matches and came into use around the 1830s and were produced extensively between 1890 and 1920. During this period, almost everyone carried strike anywhere matches, so they could light stoves, lanterns and other devices. Early matches were unreliable and prone to ignite from rubbing on one another or spontaneously. Accordingly, most people carried a match safe / box to house their matches. Wealthy people had match safes made of gold or silver, while common folk had ones made of tin or brass.c1860 A small tin Japanesque vesta case, with a roughened strike plate, to hold matches for lighting fires, lamps, cigarettes or pipes. The tin case has been embossed with a Japanese type bird design on the front and back and then coated with copper and brass to decorate and highlight different parts of the design.Embossed with a Japanese type bird design on the front and back . jewellery, personal effects, craftwork, vesta case, lights, candles, safety matches, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers, pioneers

Silver vesta case with trumpeted flower etched on one side and rose like flower on the other. Match striker on the bottom. Stylized CJS on refers to Charles James Stevens born Gibraltar 1/1/1892, died 2/3/1973, buried Geelong Eastern Cemetery. He married Edna Olive in 1966. Edna and her sister, Elsie Samuel, lived in Pickworth Avenue, Anglesea and were active in the Historical Society.Etched with trumpeted and rose-like flowers and the letters "CJS". Hallmarks: cc, P, anchor, Lion (P=1889-1890). Arrow (anchor) - Birmingham.matches, silver, charles james stevens

These were on sale at Camp 3 canteenMetal tin containing wax matches. Small cover panel insideDuncan's waterproof wax Vestas. Non poisonous. Made in Australiawax vestas, ruff, h, camp 3, tatura, ww2 camp 3, personal, effects, smoking, accessory

Small round metal match box for wax matches.Bryant and Mays, London Wax Vestaspersonal effects, smoking accessories

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Wax matches also known as 'strike anywhere' were invented in 1826 by William Newton in England. It consisted of a wax stem with embedded cotton threads and a tip of phosphorus. Cases of various styles were introduced to protect against accidental combustion. This simple but robust metal cylindrical box with close fitting cap made it attractive to soldiers in World War One. Bryant & May was a British company created in the mid-19th century specifically to make matches. In 1901 they acquired the rights to the Swan Vesta process.Match cylinder with press on lid.On cap " Bryant & Mays Wax Vesta London"match, bryant & may