Thanks BP, I get those matches whenever I am visiting my colleague in Germany. The match books there use wooden strips that come close in appearance to the congreves in use during the mid-late 1800s. Prof. Marvel, I like the matchsafes. You have some great designs there.
Books, keep me posted on the article. I'd like to see it myself. I have always thought that the little details like personal ephemera, pocket and "haversack" stuffers are what really helped make the impression believable. It also opens new doors into the more academic pursuits of this hobby. I feel that the little details also state that this is not a costume contest but a valid attempt to make yourself into a walking museum of a fascinating chapter in history.
-Dave