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Pocket Type Match Safes - Natural Sciences RETURN TO POCKET TYPE PMNS-009 Hidden Photo with Owl   [+] Enlarge [+] Enlarge   IMSA #: PMNS-009 Estimated Date: 1895 Country of Origin: USA Manufacturer: Battin & Co., Newark, NJ Catalog No.: 255 Material: Sterling Silver Markings: "Sterling", "Pat'd March 31, 1896" plus Battin mark located under the front side, above the photo. Patent/Design No.: Not marked, conforms to U. S. patent #557101 Patent/Design Date: March 31, 1896 Size (Inches): 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 Reverse: Leaf design along edge, see photo. (Note the red dot is a pressure sensitive label that was added in the 1970's.) Description and Comments: Hidden photo match safe with an owl motif, striker at bottom. The front is hinged at the bottom, and after opening the lid, the side panel opens to reveal photo. This type of match safe was referred to as a "Secret Photo Match Box" during its day. Today, some people refer to it as a "Mistress match safe" Submitted By: From the collection of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Carol B. and Stephen W. Brener.