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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
World’s First On-line Matchbox Exhibition
Between 1st and 15th January 2021 the Bangladesh Matchbox Collector’s Club held the world’s first on-line matchbox exhibition. The Exhibition is now closed, but a review of it can be found in the February magazine.
Matchboxes featured in Netflix movie
The new Netflix movie THE DIG is set in 1939 and tells the story of the Sutton Hoo archaeological dig and treasure trove. Many of the characters smoke, and there are several closeups of matchboxes. The continuity people did a good job, because they clearly show a wooden England’s Glory box on several occasions.
Harlequin Matches
In 2008 a comprehensive book with 88 pages was published with the title Harlequin Matches. This was followed by a second edition that was significantly larger with 120 pages. Now a third edition, which adds in even more information about these fantastically colourful matchboxes has been published (February 2021) and is now available for purchase. It details Bryant & May’s range of Harlequin Matches. It is laid out in the same format as the previous editions. It is arranged in two sections. Section One details the cardboard Harlequin range and Section Two the Plastic Harlequin range. The third edition now numbers 137 pages and is illustrated thought-out in colour with 173 pictures. Full review will appear in the April magazine.
Harlequin Matches Third Edition
Society AGM goes on-line
We are pleased to announce that this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on line using the popular Zoom video conferencing platform. The AGM is going to be held on April 11th at 14:00 UK time.
In the news ….. 150 years ago
‘In the news ….. 150 years ago’ has inspired a special article to be written, which is being published in two parts. It has the title: ‘The Proposed Match Tax of 1871 – Part I’, this first part will be included in our April magazine, and covers the events of April 1871.
On-line Auction success
We held our inaugural On-line Auction on Sunday 14th March and were really pleased with the way it ran. 25 members attended on-line and 8 postal bidders had also submitted bids. There was a lot of enthusiastic bidding for 30 very desirable Lots, and the results will be published in our April magazine.
Our next Auction takes place on Sunday 9th May at 14:00, and the Catalogue will be published with our April magazine.
If you would like to take part then please email us at onlineauction@phillumeny.com
Award winners announced
The names of the annual Society Award winners were announced at the 2021 AGM, which was held on-line for the first time. This years winners are :
- The Tony Gallaher Memorial Award for the Best Article published in the Society magazine in the previous year was awarded to : Roy Hunt for his article ‘Roy Hunt Matches 1985 – 1995’ (published in the February 2020 magazine No.437 on page 6)
- The KC Literary Award for the Best Publication reviewed in the Society magazine in the previous year was awarded to : Alan Middleton for his book ‘North of England Match Co., West Hartlepool 1932-1954‘ (reviewed in the April 2020 magazine No.438 on page 26)
Alan’s book is available from our Shop Window.
How much did a box of matches cost in 1944 ?
We recently received an enquiry from an author who is working on a novel set in late 1944 where a teenager in London is trying to sell individual matches to raise some money, and asked us how much a box of matches would have cost back then. After scratching our heads for a bit we were able to provide two answers :
- the short answer : the price of a box of ordinary matches was retailed at 1½d in 1944
- the long answer : the retail price of matches was subject to price control from 31st July 1940 until 9th December 1951, and during the war only British made matches were available
We’ve joined Instagram
Our Instagram account @ukphillumeny is now up and running and shows some of our archive photos of matchboxes, labels, bookmatches and hardware. We will be regularly posting new photos from Society archives and encourage members to follow us. We’ll be using #ukphillumeny to tag all our posts. This is our first step into Social Media, which we are convinced will allow us to make contact with new members and phillumeny enthusiasts worldwide and increase everyone’s knowledge of the fascinating world of phillumeny. You can also email us using instagram@phillumeny.com
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 September On-line Auction and more details about our On-line Phillumeny Exhibition in October.
April magazine
The April magazine has now been posted to members. It includes all the latest Phillumeny news plus details of our AGM.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
November on-line Auction : 14th November
Our next On-line Auction takes place on Sunday 14th November at 14:00 UK time, full details here and the November Catalogue is here.
If you haven’t yet registered but want to take part on 14th the please get in touch here.