Collectible lighters

A fraction of a second and a flick of the thumb : that's all it takes to ignite the flame of a lighter. Yet this "simple" process is the result of thousands of years of innovation in man's quest to control fire. From makeshift devices fashioned out of used bullet cartridges by soldiers in the trenches of World War I, to an elegant gold and silver masterpiece by Cartier, lighters have evolved since their creation less than a century ago. Useful and effective marketing tools, lighters have been used to promote everything from rubber tires and house paint to champagne and sports cars.

Collectible Lighters Showcases over 400 of the designs that have made the lighter one of the most popular collectors' items of the twentieth century.