Label Text:
SKINNER CATALOGUE: An early oval tin phosphorus bottle pocket match box, with bottle, one unused match, and loose label. The box is 2 7/8" x 1 3/4" x 7/8" and has two compartments, one for a 1 1/2" x 3/4" bottle, the other for about fifty matches. The stopple for the bottle is missing. The one match is stained a dark brown at the lower end and has a yellow tip which tests for sulfur only.
The label reads - "The American Pocket Lights, Warranted to burn 1000 common Sulfur Matches, Manufactured by GARWOOD H. BECKWITH & CO. N. B. In extreme cold weather it is necessary to keep them warm. Animal heat is sufficient. - For sale Wholesale and Retail by H. L. Platt & Co. No. 114 South-street, and Dr. D. Platt, No. 149 Spring-street, New-York." The New York city directories list H. L. Platt & Co., grocers, and Dan Platt, M. D. at 114 and 149 respectively in 1828; not in 1827 nor 1829.
"Beckwith Notes" states - "Garwood Hawley Beckwith, born December 17, 1804; married January 29, 1826 at Morries, Conn., Delia Maria Richards; in 1827 a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives for Torrington, at which place he died in 1830."
Phosphorus bottle matches were the first type of match. They were invented in 1786 by an Italian, and Derepas of Paris improved them by mixing magnesia with the phosphorus. The mixture was kept in the small bottle and was tightly corked when not in use to exclude atmospheric moisture. The splinter of wood was tipped with sulphur only. When a light was wanted the match was inserted into the bottle, a small bit of phosphorus was taken off, and on bringing the match out of the bottle into the air, it would inflame. Examples of this type of match, much used during the second and third decades of the 19th century and superseded by the oxymuriate match and by lucifers, are now very rare. Cat. 5/21/1936.
SKINNER LABEL:
Phosphorus Bottle Pocket Matches, 1828. Much used in Europe and American during the second and third decade of the 19th century. The bottle contained phosphorus, a bit of which, taken off on the sulphured tip of the match, would inflame on withdrawal from the bottle.
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