I viewed a print of this short film in the archives of the British Film Institute. 'Matches: An Appeal' is the earliest known example of stop-animation, or indeed any form of movie animation. It is therefore of vital historic importance despite its crudity.
The very brief film shows a stick-figure made of matchsticks, who climbs a stepladder to swab a paintbrush against a wall. In a technique that probably looked extremely unconvincing even to Victorian audiences, words form on the wall, presumably painted by the match-man. The message reads: 'For one guinea Messrs Bryant & May will forward a case containing sufficient to supply a box of matches to each man in a battalion with the name of the sender inside'.
As the film is dated 1899 (when matches were still comparatively expensive items), presumably the battalions are British troops serving in the Boer War. However, I spoke with a curator at BFI who absolutely asserts that this film was made in the early 20th century and accordingly refers to the Great War. As I viewed an acetate dupe print rather than the original footage, I shan't offer any opinion as to this film's provenance.
By modern standards, this film is almost laughably crude. But its historical significance is undeniable. I'll rate this very short film 8 out of 10.
