Heavy cast iron safety match box, this neat little remnant of every day Civil War era life is boldly marked on the cover, Self Closing – for matches & c., Patented Dec. 20, 1864, D. M & Co. A nice example in a desirable size (illustrated here with quarter for size comparison) this example offers remnants of its original black enamel finish and good evidence of age and originality. An attractive piece for the antique wood stove or country kitchen as well as to the Civil War collector. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!