Vietnam War Era Engraved Zippo Lighters

Soldiers in the Vietnam War had relied on their Zippo lighters for not only lighting their cigarettes, but also for heating food, illuminating letters from loved ones back home, and even setting fire to huts when need be. This is one the one tool that every veteran could count on, and that’s what makes this collection of Zippos from Vietnam so amazing.

Soldiers would purchase a Zippo for $1.80 back in those days, and would get their lighter personalized by one of the many sidewalk tents. Artist Bradford Edwards photographed this amazing collection of 282 Vietnam war-era Zippos, all of which have been engraved with personal messages from the soldiers that once owned them. The massive collection sold last summer on Cowan’s Auctions for $35,250.