Amongst the last boxes and cases from grandfather’s house clearance was an old suitcase. In it, full to the brim, were countless matchbooks. Literally thousands. From the Savoy in London, to Raffles in Singapore, to the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco. And a few gentleman's clubs in-between. With these matchbooks a story of a life well lived unfolds. Of Hotel splendour, of transatlantic cruises and a little jet setting. And a life lived in the glow of the Savoy. But clearly not taken for granted. Each matchbook is a tender reminder that every experience has been treasured.



Thanks to Justin Bairamian for letting me catalogue just a tiny sample of his grandfather’s collection.

Matchbooks shown in no particular order. Tumblr by Ben Stott