Bookmatches, a brief history

Exhibitor : Tom Gibbard

Bookmatches post date John Walker’s invention by nearly 70 years.  They originated with American and German patents of 1892. These limited their development and spread until the 1920s.  In the United States they proved popular with cigarette smokers and thus with advertisers who saw the chance to exploit giveaway advertising to a large customer base.  Their use in America resulted in the production of billions from the 1920s to the 1980s.  Their use elsewhere was less widespread but they are found from virtually every country in the world.

This exhibit traces their worldwide development with emphasis on their British history which was hugely influenced by American ancestry. The story is described in the gallery below, click on an image to enlarge it.

History of the Bookmatch, page 1

History of the Bookmatch, page 2

History of the Bookmatch, page 3

History of the Bookmatch, page 4

History of the Bookmatch, page 5

History of the Bookmatch, page 6

History of the Bookmatch, page 7

History of the Bookmatch, page 8

History of the Bookmatch, page 9

History of the Bookmatch, page 10

History of the Bookmatch, page 11

History of the Bookmatch, page 12

History of the Bookmatch, page 13

History of the Bookmatch, page 14

History of the Bookmatch, page 15

History of the Bookmatch, page 16

History of the Bookmatch, page 17

History of the Bookmatch, page 18

History of the Bookmatch, page 19

History of the Bookmatch, page 20

History of the Bookmatch, page 21

History of the Bookmatch, page 22

History of the Bookmatch, page 23

History of the Bookmatch, page 24

Bonus exhibit : British Railways

This is the story of the railways in Britain, told through bookmatches and a few matchboxes.

The story of the development of the railways up to 1948 is described on the pages in the gallery below, click on an image to enlarge it.

Pre-nationalisation, page 1

Pre-nationalisation, page 2

Pre-nationalisation, page 3

Pre-nationalisation, page 4

Pre-nationalisation, page 5

Pre-nationalisation, page 6

Pre-nationalisation, page 7

Pre-nationalisation, page 8

Pre-nationalisation, page 9

Pre-nationalisation, page 10

Post-nationalisation, page 1

Post-nationalisation, page 2

Post-nationalisation, page 3

Post-nationalisation, page 4

Post-nationalisation, page 5

Post-nationalisation, page 6

Post-nationalisation, page 7

Post-nationalisation, page 8

Post-nationalisation, page 9

Post-nationalisation, page 10