Masonic
Celluloid Matchsafe
by Whitehead
& Hoag
Here is a custom made Masonic
Matchsafe wrapped in celluloid and made to look like a letter. It is
addressed with the name of the original owner "E. L. Charpentier - West
Point, Ill." It is postmarked "Malta, Illinois" and dated
"1905." My guess would be that it was a Lodge fund-raising
project for Lodge No. 295. It measures 2 3/4 inches by 1 1/2 inches and
has the makers mark "The Whitehead & Hoag, Co. Newark, N.J."
stamped into the lid rim and printed on the celluloid. One of the specialties of The Whitehead & Hoag Co. of
Newark, New Jersey was celluloid advertising items; they held a patent for a
method of printing on pyroxylin (celluloid), granted on June 6, 1905, but
applied for on May 25, 1900.
