An antique Bryant & May Royal Wax Vesta tin/ match holder. It is decorated with an all over gold and black lithographed pattern with Shamrock and thistles in the corners and the Royal Coat of Arms for the UK in the centre of the lid. Impressed on the front edge of the tin is the wording “Registered December 20 – 1870”. In the centre on the bottom of the tin, there is the Bryant & May logo with “B&M Pat”. On one of the shorter sides of the tin one end the words “Royal Wax Vestas” and on the other Bryant and May. On the back edge of the lid there is a striker plate. It measures 16cm x 9cm x 2.2cm deep. For its age it has very few scratches/ surface scratches; there are no dents and no rust; there is a rub to the right corner on the bottom. Someone decided to to give a coat of silver colour to the inside base of the tin, possibly to cover up any blemishes. Please look closely at all the photos as they form an important part of the description. Thank you for your interest. Note of interest: As early matches were usually packed in tins in the late 1800s, Bryant & May acquired the tin maker Jahncke of Highbury; they made and printed tins.