Saturday, April 13, 2013

Lovecraftian Matchbooks

Mike Jenkins was generous enough to send over a collection of Lovecraftian matchbooks. The PDFs can transform a normal book of matches into a handy clue or atmospheric prop.

Inspired by the HPLHS, I have endeavored to create some 1920's-1930's-suitable matchbooks.

The Morrison Co. ones are a reference to the short story "The Call of Cthulhu", and the First National ones are a reference to "The Shadow Over Innsmouth."

First National is / was a real grocery store chain, and this logo is a recreation of their actual logo. I don't know why the HPLHS used a different logo when they made their paper prop (the hand-drawn map included in their SOI radio drama CD).

Fer de Mal is a phony cigarette brand I made up.

Print on white or off-white cardstock. Score on the dashed lines, cut on the solid lines.

If you have any problems downloading the PDFs just leave a note. Google Drive can be a bit wiggy about permissions.


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are GREAT however if he should do any more of them please let him know that in the 20's and 30's matchbook covers didn't have the warning to "close before striking" I guess because men were manly men back then and scoffed at the notion of holding a dozen or so flaming matches in their fingers as being particuarly detrimental.

Alex Kaeda said...

It took me a couple days to remember where I found it, but.... Imagine those matches, combined with this 'blueprint', either for the setting of an adventure, or as a clue for an adventure

http://www.louislamourgreatadventure.com/PongaJimMerchantMarine3.htm

JR said...

Alex, those pages with the tramp steamer blueprints have been featured here on Propnomicon before, but any reference to tramp steamers is welcome!

If you come up with an adventure, let us know!

Anonymous said...

Nice concept and design, but a serious anachronistic error. Prior to 1974, the striker was on the front of matchbooks. Not sure where you came up with the Washington Match Co. Of Boston, but either Diamond or Lion Match Co. would be more probable. A nice touch would be Sirio Match Co. of Brooklyn. A Sirio Match Co. matchbook was used by Marcel DuChamp on the cover of the first Dadaist magazine. The phrase "close cover before striking", " keep cover closed", and "close cover for safety" would all be in use in the 1930s on the footer. Even more appropriate would be a "Quality" footer. Contact me FMI, or scans of those period matchcovers.
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