[markem]

Ah, I see. My best advice, then, is this:

1. If you want to sell it, no one will pay DuPont prices without a certification from DuPont. Getting it cleaned and inspected from DuPont is the way to go. They should give you a letter of verification corresponding to the serial number.

2. If it works well, then you can put it up for sale on a few cigar sites and see what you can get - are there sites for auctioning DuPont lighters? A possible fake of an old DuPont that may or may not last isn't worth a huge amount, I'd say maybe $50 if someone just wanted it as a display piece. $30 may be more reasonable, given that it is pretty beat up.

It would be cool if it was real. I know several people who have small collections, but they only buy directly from DuPont.