Article: Antiques & Collecting: A striking vesta box collection that grew out of a bad habit; Smoking is falling out of favour, but one element of the industry still draws fans. Harry Hawkes looks at a sale of vesta matchboxes.

Byline: Harry Hawkes

In the 170 years which have elapsed since the invention of the wax match, smokers have surrounded themselves with a whole series of implements, customs and habits which in many cases have been given a near-ritualistic status.

Even today, after decades of denigration, there is still, however misplaced, an aura of glamour cherished by smokers. As the years roll by, many of the smokers' implements go into shorter and shorter supply with prices rising accordingly.

Yet, strangely perhaps, items in the field of what is known as ...

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