25 Of The City’s Coolest Matchbooks—Collect ‘Em All!

You might remember Gin Lane partner Emmett Shine from the truly awesome business cards story we did a while back. Well, this savvy collector is b-b-b-back to share some of his favorite matchbooks from up and down our favorite island, as well as a few from the Hamptons and some other New York-related locales (Miami's in there!). And pyros, we're not talking about some bland little flap of paper with a restaurant logo stamped on it. Nope, this is all about really unique specimens of miniature artwork you'd love to carry in your bag or keep on your mantel—whether you need a light or not. "I love simple, elegant design that feels relevant but timeless," says Shine. And man does he deliver: From an old-school Soviet print to a simple pair of peepers, Shine's favorite samples are all here, plus one or two tchotchkes that he included, along with the lowdown on what makes them so special. While there are endlessly major matchbooks all over the Big Apple, we can't list all of our favorites (we only have so many Volupsas!), so leave us a comment if you think we missed some badass 'books. Can't start a fire without a spark, right?