Blog
Welcome to our Blog page, where you will always be able to find the latest news about the Society and our wonderful hobby of Phillumeny.
If you have any comments on the Blog or news that you want to share please email us on blog@phillumeny.com. You can also follow us on Instagram using @ukphillumeny
On-line Phillumeny Exhibition 2021 is now OPEN
Our first On-line Phillumeny Exhibition opened its doors at 09:00 UK time on 1st October and runs for the entire month. It is jam-packed full of beautiful, exciting Exhibits from all over the world showing the full breadth of our hobby. Visit the Exhibition here.
Covid guidance for October 3rd meeting in London
Everyone attending the meeting on Sunday 3rd October is asked to observe the following Covid guidance, in order to comply with the Risk Assessment.
- Notices will be fixed to the outside of the fire door to the car park. and to the door in the lobby advising re symptoms, face covering and hand sanitising.
- A supply of spare masks will be available for those who arrive without.
- There will be up to 50 attendees, and social distancing will be observed. The age group of attendees means that most will have had two vaccinations, and some will have had a third.
- A one-way system will be in place, and having the fire door to the car park open will also allow for ventilation.
- Sanitizing sprays will be available at both doors and in the toilets.
October magazine
The October magazine has now been posted to members. It includes full details of the November On-line Auction and more details about our On-line Phillumeny Exhibition in October.
Art and Matchbook exhibition in London
A new Exhibition has opened in London, entitled “Always a Show” by Aaron Kasmin, which features works of art inspired by recent American feature matchbook discoveries.
It is at the Sims Reed Gallery and runs from from 16 September – 28 October 2021.
The exhibition showcases twenty-nine new pencil drawings created during lockdowns, which portray vibrant scenes from the post-prohibition era.
London Meetings to go ahead
We are pleased to announce that the London meetings at Sheen Lane Centre will be going ahead, starting on 3rd October. Sheen Lane Centre have informed us that they are compliant with all the necessary Covid regulations, and that our meetings can go ahead as planned.
Full details of all Society Events can be found on our Events page.
Our Average Magazine Reader (1950)
The Phillumenist magazine ‘s tenth anniversary edition in 1950 included an article entitled “Our Average Reader”. Here’s what it said, which makes fascinating reading and an interesting comparison to today :
Our average reader is 38, has 10,828 different labels, and has collected abroad. He picks up boxes fresh to him in the street, also collects mint and damaged labels, and keeps ancient boxes intact. He started the hobby on his own initiative, keeps his labels hinged in albums by paper hinges, and classified by countries of manufacture. He calls himself a phillumenist, corresponds with collectors at home and abroad (chiefly Czechoslovakia), will reply quickly. He spends 5½ hours a week on the hobby, keeps his “Phillumenist” magazines, started collecting in 1936, and reads the magazine from page one. He has Cruse’s book, and has entertained a fellow collector at home. He has this magazine as far back a 1944, specialises in Swedish brands, has most labels of Sweden and rarely any from Russia.
August magazine
The August magazine has now been posted to members. It includes full details of the September On-line Auction and more details about our On-line Phillumeny Exhibition in October.
Society Bookshop is now open
After almost three years we’re pleased to announce that the Society Bookshop has now re-opened, stocking over 25 great books on all aspects of Phillumeny from individual match manufacturers to the story of entire nations. You can visit the Bookshop here and order your books on-line. The full bookshop list is also available in the August Match Label News.
On-line Phillumeny Exhibition 1st to 31st October 2021
- We are really excited to announce that we will be holding an On-line Phillumeny exhibition from 1st to 31st October 2021. You can find all the details here.
October meeting – provisionally booked
We’re pleased to announce that due to the continued decrease of Covid numbers in the UK we have now provisionally booked Sheen Lane Centre, London for an all-day meeting on Sunday October 3rd more details here.
