S.T. Dupont - Pocket lighter - Silver plated

This rare S.T. Dupont petrol lighter dates from the 1940s to the early 1950s. It is one of the very first pocket lighters made by the French luxury brand, before its famous gas lighters came onto the market in 1952. This model works in the traditional way, using a wick and lighter fluid.
The engravings on the base reveal a lot about its age: the flowing “S.T. Dupont Paris” lettering and the French wording “Breveté tous pays” (Patented in all countries) are typical of this period. The individual serial number above it was still stamped by hand, one character at a time. The fact that the digits sit very slightly crooked in the photo is an important sign of authenticity.
There is also just one large screw on the base. Unscrew it and you gain direct access to the tank and its cotton wadding, which is filled with lighter fluid. The lighter is silver-plated and is in restored or unused condition. The flint is not in the lighter, and the wick is dry and clean, which is important for international shipping. Once a flint has been inserted and the lighter filled with fluid, it is ready to use—or you can display it in a cabinet as an investment.