About us
The British Matchbox Label and Bookmatch Society (BML&BS) was founded on the 1st January 1945.
We are a very active Society with members who are fascinated by all aspects of the match making industry across the world. Many are collectors of matchboxes, matchbooks and match-related items, while others are passionate about the social, industrial and artistic history of the humble match in all its forms.
We always welcome new members – if you would like to join us please click here. We publish a 40-page magazine six times a year, hold regular meetings throughout the year which always include an auction, and offer members many other hobby benefits.
The Society is non-profit making, all income being used to provide facilities for the benefit of members. It is run by Phillumenists for Phillumenists. Election of Officers who are honorary, is by nomination and election.
The founder members of the Society were probably only concerned in forming a group of collectors to advance their swapping circle, add to their collections and pool information about what they collected. Most likely it never occurred to them that what they started would still be operating so many years later. It is indeed remarkable, and a credit to them and those members that followed who have taken up their lead and offered their services to the Society.
Some Social History – of the BML&BS
The Society was originally named The British Matchbox Label and Booklet Society (BML&BS), when it was formed in 1945 by Ian Clark, R M Whitely and J K (Ken) Morris. They circulated about 120 people whom they knew to be interested and 63 of them joined. Acceptances were numbered in alphabetical order, and Gordon Appleby became Member No. 1.
Here are three letters from prominent senior members of the Society who reminisce about how the Society formed in 1945.
It would appear that earlier attempts to establish a “matchbox collectors club” in Britain were made prior to 1945. We know only scant references to these, such as the “Society of English Labelists” formed in 1937, and the “Match Label Exchange Club” (England) in the 1930s.
It is thought that the first meeting held in England of matchbox label collectors was at the Boulogne Restaurant, Gerrard Street, London on the 17th September 1937. It was organised by Mr S H Toole of Southampton.
Another organisation name appeared in the Daily Herald Newspaper of 29th November 1938 is about the ‘British Union of Matchbox Collectors’ and refers to them as “Match-box magnates”.
The first Society Rally was held on 22nd April 1945 at the Seymour Hall in London, not far from Marble Arch.
This photograph was taken at a meeting of the Society held at Mr and Mrs Inman’s home in Taplow on Sunday 21st July 1946. It is signed on the back by M Whitely, S H Bell, P J Pinkett, J B Cornwell, J G Stitt, S H Scott-Watson, Ian Clark, Charles Crampton, John Butler, A J Johnston, J A Inman, H Ulundi Bathe and G Appleby.
The name of the Society was changed on the 17th April 2011 to replace the outdated term booklet in favour of bookmatch.