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Up for sale is a premier, massive collector's lot of over 30 vintage advertising matchbooks and matchboxes mapping out the historic roadside hospitality, fine dining, and local landmarks of the Great Lakes and Midwest travel corridors.
Dating primarily from the 1960s through the 1980s, this collection features exceptional regional depth with a strong focus on classic Michigan institutions, Ohio lodging, and Canadian highway transit stops. This is an instant, highly curated local history collection!
Lot Highlights Include:
• Detroit, MI Staples: Joey's Stables (2x Covers) – The legendary equestrian-themed Delray neighborhood institution (Est. 1933). A crown jewel for Detroit restaurant historians!
• Benton Harbor, MI: Holiday Inn (I-94 Exit 28) – Stunning, highly reflective vintage gold foil matchbook with an intricate starburst textured design from the iconic "World's Innkeeper" era.
• Metro Detroit & Suburbs: New York Deli Restaurant (St. Clair Shores, MI on Little Mack) and Dearborn Moose Lodge No. 1620 (Dearborn, MI).
• Northern Michigan & U.P. Travel: Timberly Motel (2x) in red, Chalet Motel Alpine-village theme, Hospitality House (Grayling, MI Business Loop), and the Crestview Motel located in the historic Upper Peninsula (Ironwood, MI).
• Ohio Hospitality: The Daytonian Hotel (Dayton, OH) premium gold/brown embossed foil matchbox sleeve, alongside the Arborgate Inn (Washington Court House, OH).
• Canadian Transit / Ontario Highway 17: Milano/Balano Restaurant (Windsor, Ontario – directly across the Detroit border), plus a fantastic northern Ontario highway pairing of the Town & Country Motel and Hide-Away Motel both from Dryden, Ontario.
• And More: Classic travel landmarks including the Pilgrim, Stonewood Inn, Country Inn, Will Inns, Red Cedars, and several others shown in the layout!
Condition:
Excellent vintage, pre-owned condition. Covers are flat and well-preserved, showcasing bright foils, bold typography, and pristine retro graphics. Minor shelf wear and edge aging present consistent with authentic vintage ephemera. Please inspect the high-resolution layout photo carefully to evaluate individual striking strips, covers, and match counts. Sold as-is.
Shipping Note:
Shipped securely and packed with care via USPS Ground Advantage (Surface Transport Only) to strictly comply with federal shipping safety regulations regarding safety matches.
