U.S. State Department Reward Matchbooks, c. 1995–2005 – Set of 11

Title: U.S. Counter-Terrorism Rewards / Rewards for Justice Matchbooks
Agencies: U.S. Department of State; Bureau of Diplomatic Security; Diplomatic Security Service; Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program; Rewards for Justice; Federal Bureau of Investigation (contact partner on early HEROES pieces)
Date range: c. 1995–2005
Object type: Matchbooks / matchbook covers
Count: 11 matchbooks, 22 printed faces
Languages: English, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Urdu, French, German
Subjects: Saddam Hussein, Uday Hussein, Qusay Hussein, Usama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Saif al-Adel, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi, Lamen Khalifa Fhimah, unidentified suspect
Program function: reward publicity, tip solicitation, and counterterror outreach through portable everyday objects

1. Rewards for Saddam Hussein and his Sons
Language: Arabic
Front subject: Saddam Hussein
Back subject: Uday Hussein / Qusay Hussein reward-paid notice
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Rewards for Justice
Date range: 2003

2. Rewards for Saddam Hussein and his Sons
Language: English
Front subject: Saddam Hussein
Back subject: Uday Hussein / Qusay Hussein, “$30 Million Reward Paid”
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Rewards for Justice
Date range: 2003

3. Usama bin Laden / Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Language: Dari
Front subject: Usama bin Laden
Back subject: Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Rewards for Justice
Date range: 2005

4. Usama bin Laden / Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Language: Pashto
Front subject: Usama bin Laden
Back subject: Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Rewards for Justice
Date range: 2005

5. Usama bin Laden / Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Language: English
Front subject: Usama bin Laden
Back subject: Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Rewards for Justice
Date range: c. 2001–2005

6. Usama bin Laden / Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Language: Arabic
Front subject: Usama bin Laden
Back subject: Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Rewards for Justice
Date range: c. 2001–2005

7. Usama bin Laden / Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Language: Urdu
Front subject: Usama bin Laden
Back subject: Ayman al-Zawahiri / Saif al-Adel
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Rewards for Justice
Date range: c. 2001–2005

8. World Trade Center Bombing (New York City | February 26, 1993)
Language: English
Front subject: Ramzi Ahmed Yousef
Back subject: Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program / HEROES contact panel
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program
Date range: c. 1994–1995

9. Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program
Language: Arabic
Front subject: unidentified suspect / generic anti-terror reward appeal
Back subject: Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program / HEROES contact panel
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program; FBI contact reference on reverse
Date range: c. 1994–1998

10. Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing (Lockerbie, Scotland | December 21, 1988)
Language: French
Front subject: Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi
Back subject: Lockerbie explanatory text
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program / Rewards for Justice
Date range: c. 1995

11. Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing (Lockerbie, Scotland | December 21, 1988)
Language: German
Front subject: Lamen Khalifa Fhimah
Back subject: Lockerbie explanatory text
Agency: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program / Rewards for Justice
Date range: c. 1995

This set of 11 U.S. State Department reward matchbooks was issued between the mid-1990s and early 2000s through the Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program and Rewards for Justice, administered by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. These are not standard military leaflets, but portable counterterror outreach objects designed to circulate through everyday use.

The group includes campaigns tied to Saddam Hussein, Uday and Qusay Hussein, Usama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Saif al-Adel, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi, and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah, alongside generic reward and contact pieces. Printed across English, Arabic, Urdu, Dari, Pashto, French, and German, the matchbooks frame information as a paid exchange and extend U.S. reward messaging into a handheld, repeat-use format.

One matchbook records the confirmed $30 million reward paid after information led to the location of Uday and Qusay Hussein in 2003, turning the reward program itself into a form of proof-of-payment publicity.

Exhibited in Khajistan: Office of War Information (O.W.I.) at Pioneer Works, New York (May 08 - Aug 09, 2026).

Availability: One set available.