Matchbox Labels
My interest in matchbox labels lies primarily in the design but also the concept that these small images can communicate to a large number of people.
1950s and 60s Eastern European labels captivate me most. Why did this area of the world embrace modern design and imagery when many countries, including Britain, still preferred the Victorian aesthetic?
Subject matter is also fascinating. As with advertisers, governments were quick to realise the potential of these far reaching messages. Propaganda was popular but so too was public service announcements including fire safety, hygiene, money saving, alcohol abuse and road safety.
This combination of subject and design has left behind an invaluable archive of its time.
July 22nd, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I`ve just come into possession of hundreds of Polish matchbox labels……are you interested?
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:37 am
Yes definitely!
August 14th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Sorry Jane in responding so slowly how do you want to do this.
Cheers,
Dave
September 12th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
[...] York, England designer Jane McDevitt has assembled a huge collection of beautiful 1950’s and 1960’s matchbox labels from around the world (mostly Eastern European). [...]
September 17th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Jane, I have, from time to time, collected matchbooks. I have never met anyone else who collected matchbooks but I do find them very interesting…I had a collection from the fifties that were somehow lost and I started again in the seventies and eighties.
I find the changing graphics fascinating…most of my collection is North American with some European and South American pieces included.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:43 am
JANE——
I spent some time in Estonia last summer hoping to acquire some of these lovelies… you are one lucky lady to be surrounded by such gems.
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:44 pm
The cow wins!
October 31st, 2007 at 2:52 am
these are so wonderful! thank you for sharing them.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Hi,
Wondered if you could help , I work in Theatre and we are doing a 1930’s show set in Massachusettes which requires match boxes. Do you know where we would find some in England?? Love your site.
Jules
February 13th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Thanks for getting in touch. All my matchbox labels come from ebay. There are a few people that I regularly buy from. Here are links to their items
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQdfspZ1QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32QQlredZAny00000QQsassZhobbs1950
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQdfspZ1QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32QQlredZAny00000QQsassZcolin7291
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQdfspZ1QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32QQlredZAny00000QQsassZcornercollectables
Otherwise a search on ebay should get you plenty of results.
I hope this helps. Good luck with your production.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Amazing set of images - thanks so much for sharing!
peace,
HMK
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmk
February 26th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
hello
great to see these online thanks for putting them up. when i was traveling in india i began collecting match boxs after i asked for a light and the guy said keep the whole box - it had a lovely peacock design and from then on each new place i went i would track down new boxs, feeling at home in a new place if i recognised the box! some jems abandoned on the roadside too.
big up and thanks jane!
February 28th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
[...] I absolutely LOVE these vintage matchbox labels. Maraid Design has great examples on their website, as well as these great labels on flickr. I think that collecting these just might become a new hobby of mine. [...]
March 7th, 2008 at 11:37 am
[...] [Art] Here’s a massive Flickr set devoted to (mostly) Eastern Bloc matchbook designs, courtesy of Jane McDevitt. (Above: a design of unknown origin. Link via Jonathan Bennett.) [...]
April 1st, 2008 at 12:44 am
Thanks for sharing your amazing and so beautiful collection. Found it by a link on http://www.drawn.ca.
Is it possible to get the pictures in an archive, zip-file or the like?
April 1st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I’m afraid I only keep my very hi res versions - which would be too big to send. After I have uploaded to flickr I bin the ones I have prepared - because they are always on the web if/when I need them.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
these are absolutely amazing!
October 14th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Hi Jane
Thanks for sharing this rare collection.I am yogesh from India.A product designer by profession and a passionate match box collector(own over 5000).I really appreciate the easter european style of illustrative lables.So clear and informative.Even color composition, symmetry and message style is direct.
I was just wondering if yu can help me to improve my collection by exchange or sharing few.
Thanks again for sharing these beautiful pieces.
yogeshmaralkar@gmail.com
will await ur reply.
December 25th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Hi Jane,
I love these. I saw some of them and found your web address in the latest McSweeney’s. Thanks for putting this together.
Andy
February 25th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Hiya, I found this page a while ago, and thought id come back and put a link to some more match boxs, ones i collected in india and are up on my website http://www.OlasArt.com …cheers again this is a great page.
Match box set 1 click here
Match box set 2 click here
Match boxs painted on a car! click here
more match boxs on a car click here