Vintage 1957 Italian Gold-Tip Safety Matches Container - Raphael Art Series For Sale

Up for sale is a beautiful, highly collectible mid-century Italian novelty safety match container. This stunning piece of Tobacciana ephemera features a gilded, textured cardboard exterior dedicated to the masterworks of the High Renaissance painter Raphael.Unlike most surviving examples found empty, this container is packed with its original wooden safety matches featuring brilliant, metallic gold-colored chemical tips! The bottom of the cylinder features its original clear mica viewport window, allowing you to view the stunning gold match heads stacked inside.Features & Artwork Vignettes:Thematic Text: Labeled "FROM RAPHAEL'S PAINTINGS" and "XV th CENTURY" on the removable friction lid.Authenticity Stamps: Features U.S. Design Patent number US PAT D 180,015 stamped on the base (issued in 1957 to Guglielmo Frascolla).Quantities: Stamped "AVERAGE 100 SAFETY MATCHES" around the base border.4 Stunning Art Panels:Divine LoveWith Veil (Detail from Madonna of the Chair)Goldfinch (Detail from Madonna of the Goldfinch)Marriage (Detail from The Marriage of the Virgin)Condition Report:This item is in fantastic vintage condition for being nearly 70 years old. The printed graphics are vibrant with minimal fading. The structural cardboard remains rigid. The lid shows minor, expected edge-fraying from decades of opening, which adds true vintage character. The internal dark lid insert features a faint, hand-carved star motif from a previous owner. Matches appear completely un-struck and well-preserved. Please review the high-resolution photos for exact cosmetic details.