2026 celebrations

2026 is an important year for phillumenists. It marks 200 years since the invention of the Friction Match by John Walker in Stockton-on-Tees. It is hard to over-state the importance that John Walker’s invention made to society at large but also to collectors.

The British Matchbox Label and Bookmatch Society intends to celebrate this life-changing invention in two ways :

• A physical exhibition, at Preston Park Museum in Stockton-on-Tees
• An on-line exhibition on our main web site
• A members’ meeting with Auction

Although 2026 is just over a year away, we started planning these celebrations in 2022 and will publish more details once they become available.

If you have information about John Walker that you would like to share with us, or you would like to help with the 2026 celebrations in any way, we would be pleased to hear from you johnwalker2026@phillumeny.com