Description: My family took a trip to Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore in 1971. We acquired this box of matches when we stayed at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The Raffles Hotel opened in 1887 and today is one of the few remaining 19th century hotels in the world. In 1967 its popularity surged again when it was used extensively in the film “Pretty Polly” directed by Guy Green. The government of Singapore declared the Raffles Hotel a National Monument in the 1980s. And here’s an interesting side note - the Singapore Sling was first created in 1915 by Raffles bartender Noam Tong Boon. The matchbox is still full of its original wooden matches. The striker appears to have been used a couple of times. There is some wear around the edges, a slight tear at the bottom on the back, but it is in overall quite good condition. Please refer to photos for more accurate view of condition. The box measures just over 2” long. While preparing the box for shipping, tape dropped onto the front of it and it’s not in the beautiful condition it was when I started! On the back of the box is an advertisement for the Tiger Tavern at the hotel. In 1902, the last tiger to be killed in Singapore was pursued at the Raffles Hotel. The tiger escaped from a performing circus at the far end of the road where the hotel is located, went for a good swim and came to rest for the night under the Bar & Billiard Room, which was then an elevated building underneath which was a space for empty boxes and crates. A colleague saw the tiger and requested the help of a local headmaster who was known for his sharp shooting skills. It was dark, and his first three shots missed. The tiger was eventually killed, but his memory lives on in the name of the Tiger Tavern. This matchbox is a wonderful piece of history you’ll want to add to your collection. It has been stored in a box with other matchbooks/boxes collected on our trip for many years in a (ironically) non-smoking home.
Price: 9.99 USD
Location: Tualatin, Oregon
End Time: 2025-02-06T01:58:46.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Country/Region of Manufacture: Singapore
