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
Bangladesh Matchbox Exhibition
Our friends in the Bangladesh Matchbox Collectors’ Club are holding their first face-to-face exhibition from 22 to 24 September 2023. We wish them every success with the show.

August magazine
The August magazine has now been posted to members. It includes full details of the Northwich meeting and more details about our third On-line Phillumeny Exhibition in October.

200 year anniversary of the invention of the lighter
Exactly 200 years today Johan Wolfgang Döbereiner invented the first lighter, also known as Döbereiner’s Lamp.

Extended : On-line Phillumeny Exhibition from Associação Portuguesa de Filumenismo
Our friends in the Portuguese Phillumeny Society (Associação Portuguesa de Filumenismo) have extended their second on-line Phillumeny Exhibition until 31st July 2023.

June magazine
The June magazine has now been posted to members. It includes full details of the July On-line Auction, the Auction of the Bill Greenwell Collection, and important announcements about our 2026 celebrations for the 200th anniversary of John Walker’s invention of the Friction Match, plus an invitation to participate in this year’s On-line Phillumeny Exhibition in October.

2023 Society Awards announced
The two Society Awards for 2023 were announced at the recent AGM, and details of the winners can be found on our AWARDS page.
Phillonex 2023 announced : June 2023
The Swiss Match Museum is organizing for the second time an international online exhibition about phillumeny. There are great prizes to be won. Participation is free and possible immediately.
The motif this year is: flowers. The exhibition starts on June 1st and ends on June 30th 2023.
For more details visit the Phillonex web site.

Second on-line Phillumeny Exhibition from Associação Portuguesa de Filumenismo
Our friends in the Portuguese Phillumeny Society (Associação Portuguesa de Filumenismo) have curated their second on-line Phillumeny Exhibition which opened on 8th April 2023. Their first Exhibition last year was really good, and we encourage everyone to visit their new Show which we are sure you will enjoy.

April magazine
The April magazine has now been posted to members. It includes all the latest Phillumeny news plus details of our AGM.

Meeting Auction Catalogues – web site has latest additions
The Catalogues for Meeting Auctions are always printed in the Society magazine, but more Lots always arrive after printing and before the Auction.
We are now updating the Catalogue on the web site with these additions, so it’s always keeping an eye on the listings.
Facebook Groups
More and more Phillumeny-related groups are appearing on Facebook and we want to provide links to them from our website, so have created a new page which you can find here.
Although the Society does not yet currently have a Facebook page it is something we are actively looking into.
February magazine
The February magazine has now been posted to members. It includes full details of the March Live On-line Auction and all the latest phillumeny news.

Third annual online exhibition by Bangladesh club, until 15th January 2023
The Bangladesh Matchbox Collectors Club (BMCC) have organised their third annual on-line exhibition which can be viewed here from 1st to 15th January 2023.

Portuguese Association’s on-line Exhibition extended to end of January
The Associação Portuguesa de Filumenismo (APF) organised an on-line exhibition to celebrate its 50-year anniversary. The Show opened on 3st July 2022 and has been extended to the end of January 2023. You can visit the Exhibition here
December MLN delayed
We are very sorry for the delayed receipt of the December issue of “Match Label News”. It was posted on 2nd December and has been caught up in the current strikes by Royal Mail.
Philip Morris buys Swedish Match
On 7th November 2022 the Reuters news agency reported that Philip Morris has been successful in its bid to buy Swedish Match. Their declared intention is to take Swedish Match private.
2022 Award winners announced from our On-line Phillumeny Exhibition
We are delighted to announce the Award winners from our 2022 On-line Phillumeny Exhibition :
- Members’ Award : Anthony’s Garage by Anthony Harris
- President’s Award : Sir Adamjee – From a Match Trader to a Nation Builder by Badrul Hisham Jaafar
- Committee’s Award : 19th Century scrapbook albums, 21st century treasure by Jesús María Bollo Garcia
These three Exhibits are now in the Permanent Gallery.
We will be holding another On-line Phillumeny Exhibition in October 2023.
If you have any questions about the Exhibition then please contact us at onlineexhibition@phillumeny.com
October magazine
The October magazine has now been posted to members, which includes all the latest information about Phillumeny, all Society Events and the forthcoming Society Auctions.

Bangladesh third international virtual Matchbox and Labels Exhibition, January 2023
The Bangladesh Matchbox Collectors’ Club (BMCC) have announced that they will hold their third international virtual Matchbox and Labels Exhibition from 1st to 15th January 2023, and they are encouraging collectors to contribute. The theme for the Exhibition is : Life on matchboxes & labels.
Full details of how to participate can be found on their web site here. The last date for submissions is 20th December 2022
Matchgirls commemorated with Blue Plaque
On 5th July 2022 a Blue Plaque was unveiled in Bow, London, commemorating the famous Match Girls strike of 1888.
Full details of the unveiling, and the campaign to remember this landmark 19th century event, can be found on The Matchgirls Memorial website.

Kidlington meeting announced for January 2023
We’re pleased to announce that the Kidlington meeting will be back in 2023 after its absence due to Covid.
It will take place on Sunday January 15th 2023 from 09:00 to 15:00.
More details can be found here.
August magazine
The August magazine has now been posted to members, which includes all the latest information about Phillumeny, all Society Events and the forthcoming Society Auctions.

Rathkamp Convention : 14-21 August 2022
Our friends at the Rathkamp Matchcover Society have announced the dates of this year’s Convention : 14th to 21st August 2022 at the Doubletree Westlake, 1100 Crocker Rd., Westlake, OH 44145. RMS is celebrating its 80th year in 2022.
Full details of the Convention can be found on their web site
New book : Advertising Matches from Singapore
A new book has just been published called Striking! Advertising Matches from Singapore which can be purchased here.

With its rectangular and pocket-friendly form, matchboxes plastered with advertisements once offered an affordable and portable means of marketing for restaurants, hotels and other businesses. This collection of over 350 covers from Singapore—each reproduced true to size—captures the city-state’s colourful modernisation during the 1970s to 1990s. An accompanying essay on the history of matchbox production in Singapore along with seven curated themes reveals the many meanings and cultures emblazoned on each design.
A full review will be published in our August magazine.
June magazine
The June magazine has now been posted to members, which includes all the latest information about Phillumeny, all Society Events and the forthcoming Society Auctions.

Ephemera Society Summer Fair : 29th May
Our friends at the Ephemera Society are holding their Summer Fair on 29th May. Full details can be found here on their web site.

Phillonex 2022 announced : Swiss Match Museum’s on-line exhbition
The Swiss Match Museum is organizing for the second time an international online exhibition about phillumeny. There are great prizes to be won. Participation is free and possible immediately.
The motif this year is: cars and trucks. The exhibition starts on June 1st and ends on June 30th, 2022.
For more details visit the Phillonex web site.

April magazine
The April magazine has now been posted to members, which includes all the latest information about Phillumeny, all Society Events and the forthcoming Society Auctions.

Society AGM : information for members
This year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Sunday 10th April during the Society Meeting in London. The agenda will be published in the April magazine, and members are invited to vote on the Resolutions.
- If you want to make a postal vote on this year’s AGM Resolutions then click here
- If you are unable to attend the Meeting but would like to join using Zoom the please contact us here
Belgium meeting and exhibition announced : 4th June 2022
Details are now available about a Matchbox meeting and Exhibition in Belgium on 4th June 2022. For more details contact Danny Robben.
