{"id":1718,"date":"2025-11-20T22:03:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T22:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/?page_id=1718"},"modified":"2026-05-29T07:44:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T07:44:34","slug":"on-line-exhibit-french-match-industry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/on-line-exhibit-french-match-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"French match industry"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_2907\" class=\"alignright fixed\" style=\"width: 300px;\"><a class=\"zoom-hover fb\" data-fancybox-group=\"post-1718\" data-fancybox-title=\"OCHA, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\" href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2907 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-60x60.png 60w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-238x238.png 238w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-56x56.png 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-1090x1091.png 1090w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-535x535.png 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-350x350.png 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-258x258.png 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-1140x1141.png 1140w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-1920x1921.png 1920w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-476x476.png 476w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_-112x112.png 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/France_-_Location_Map_2013_-_FRA_-_UNOCHA.svg_.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>OCHA, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Exhibitor : <a href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/2025\/11\/21\/on-line-exhibitor-stephane-pinaud\/\">St\u00e9phane Pinaud<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">In 1831 <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charles_Sauria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Charles Sauria<\/strong><\/a> invented phosphorus friction matches by replacing antimony sulphide with white phosphorus in John Walker&#8217;s formula. White phosphorus would remain a primary component of matches until 1906 when it was outlawed by the Berne Convention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The beginnings of the French match industry can be traced to 1832 where records of two manufacturers can be found :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Allumettes Pyrogenes, by Merckel Etienne Georges&nbsp;(Paris), used a small gummed label<\/li>\n<li>Joseph &amp; Cie, in Paris<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The same as in many other countries, the next forty years saw the emergence of small manufacturers and then larger factories across the country. Of particular note are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">1841 Roche &amp; Cie opened a factory at Marseille. Roche was one of the main manufacturers in France before the monopoly. Baptise Roche worked before for Merckel, and died in 1848 in a fire at his factory<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">1847 Caussemille Jne &amp; Cie started producing matches at Marseille<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">1856 Coignet Fr\u00e8res &amp; Cie (Paris and Lyon) bought Lundstr\u00f6m&#8217;s patent for safety matches<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">1859 H Amphoux started a factory in Marseille producing household boxes, nudes, mythology, animals etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Labels from these and other early manufacturers can be seen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phillumeny.com\/2023\/11\/05\/french-matchbox-labels-1830s-1870s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Match tax and state monopoly<\/h2>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">On 4<sup>th<\/sup> September 1871 the French government decided to impose a tax on the match industries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Then on 2<sup>nd<\/sup> April 1872 they created a State Monopoly to collect match tax and to control the manufacture of matches. This was the Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Allumettes Chimiques (CGAC), hundreds of firms were absorbed into CGAC and by 1875 only 11 factories remained.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The original shapes of French matchboxes, from before the 1872 monopoly, have always fascinated and surprised me.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ngg_shortcode_0_placeholderThe Marseille-based manufacturer Amphoux was particularly prolific.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_1_placeholder\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">In 1885 CGAC became Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Allumettes Chimiques pour la France et L\u2019Etranger (CGACFE).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">On 30<sup>th<\/sup> December 1889 the French state decided to take over the monopoly under the direction of the Manufactures de l&#8217;Etat.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7264\" class=\"alignright fixed\" style=\"width: 516px;\"><a class=\"zoom-hover fb\" data-fancybox-group=\"post-1718\" data-fancybox-title=\"Some labels from SEITA\" href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7264 \" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-300x155.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"516\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-300x155.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-1024x528.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-768x396.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-116x60.jpg 116w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-56x29.jpg 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-1090x562.jpg 1090w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-535x276.jpg 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-350x180.jpg 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-258x133.jpg 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-1140x588.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small-112x58.jpg 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Six-Seita-small.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 516px) 100vw, 516px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Some labels from SEITA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>State Monopoly SEITA, 1935<\/h2>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">In 1935 the tobacco and match monopolies were consolidated into SEITA (Service d&#8217;Exploitation Industrielle des Tabacs et des Allumettes).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Between 1872 and 1952 demand for matches decreased dramatically leaving only eight factories which were positioned across the country to facilitate easy distribution of the boxes. These factories can be identified by an index code on the label:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A Aubervilliers factory<\/li>\n<li>B <span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">B\u00e8gles<\/span>&nbsp;factory<\/li>\n<li>M Marseille factory<\/li>\n<li>N Macon factory<\/li>\n<li>S Saintines factory<\/li>\n<li>T Trelaze factory<\/li>\n<li>X Aix-en-Provenance factory<\/li>\n<li>Z Metz factory<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By 1977 only the Macon, Trelaze and Saintines factories remained. All labels, skillets and bookmatches were produced at Macon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Saintines was the last SEITA factory and closed in 1999.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5853\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 800px;\">\n<div class=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-5853\" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-300x13.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"35\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-300x13.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-1024x44.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-768x33.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-1536x66.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-2048x88.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-1389x60.jpg 1389w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-56x2.jpg 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-1090x47.jpg 1090w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-535x23.jpg 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-350x15.jpg 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-258x11.jpg 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-1140x49.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-1920x83.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3-112x5.jpg 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bonus-Exhibit-banner-3.jpg 2246w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3480\" class=\"alignright fixed\" style=\"width: 300px;\"><a class=\"zoom-hover fb\" data-fancybox-group=\"post-1718\" data-fancybox-title=\"Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Allumettes Chimiques, ca. 1875\" href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3480 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-90x60.jpg 90w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-56x37.jpg 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-1090x726.jpg 1090w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-535x357.jpg 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-258x172.jpg 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13-112x75.jpg 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-13.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Allumettes Chimiques, ca. 1875<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #928fa9;\"><strong>Bonus exhibit : Early French Matchboxes<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>My exhibit displays French matchboxes from the 19th Century and early 20th Century, including some very beautiful and intricate boxes that have survived intact to this day.&nbsp; The French match industry was one of the earliest in the world, starting around 1832. The well-known match factories of Caussemille Jne &amp; Cie and Roche &amp; Cie were among the world\u2019s largest and well developed, employing exceptional graphic designers and operating extensive printing facilities. My exhibit focusses on some of the lesser known manufacturers and rarer boxes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3481\" class=\"alignleft fixed\" style=\"width: 333px;\"><a class=\"zoom-hover fb\" data-fancybox-group=\"post-1718\" data-fancybox-title=\"Romain Mallet\" href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3481 \" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-300x172.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"333\" height=\"191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-2048x1174.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-105x60.jpg 105w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-56x32.jpg 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-1090x625.jpg 1090w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-535x307.jpg 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-350x201.jpg 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-258x148.jpg 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-1140x653.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-1920x1100.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-112x64.jpg 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mallet-scaled.jpg 2560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Romain Mallet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>These small boxes are from the factory of <strong>Romain Mallet<\/strong> in Bordeaux. They date from around 1870 and measure 49 x 28 x 8 mm. Mallet produced many of these small boxes containing candle matches and mainly illustrated with female nudes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3483\" class=\"alignright fixed\" style=\"width: 214px;\"><a class=\"zoom-hover fb\" data-fancybox-group=\"post-1718\" data-fancybox-title=\"Type 11D boxes, Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Allumettes Chimiques, 58 x 41 x 13 mm\" href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3483 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12-43x60.jpg 43w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12-56x78.jpg 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12-535x748.jpg 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12-350x490.jpg 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12-258x361.jpg 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12-112x157.jpg 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-12.jpg 732w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Type 11D boxes, Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Allumettes Chimiques, 58 x 41 x 13 mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After the establishment of the monopoly in France in 1872 and the creation of the &#8220;<strong>Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des allumettes Chimiques<\/strong>&#8220;, the first boxes were based on Caussemille designs. This is the case for type 11D boxes, shown on the right, which date from around 1875. Boxes in the first two rows use patterns from Caussemille. On the top of the first box we can see the tax stamp with value 5c. The company operated from 1873 to 1885.<\/p>\n<p>Type 11D boxes were sold until the early 1940s, by which time the matches had become too expensive. The beauty of the boxes had continuously decreased, and the last illustrations were in black and white.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3484\" class=\"alignleft fixed\" style=\"width: 309px;\"><a class=\"zoom-hover fb\" data-fancybox-group=\"post-1718\" data-fancybox-title=\"Large boxes, 117 x 52 x 28 mm\" href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3484 \" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"309\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-88x60.jpg 88w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-56x38.jpg 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-1090x746.jpg 1090w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-535x366.jpg 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-350x240.jpg 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-258x177.jpg 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-1140x780.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09-112x77.jpg 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-09.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 309px) 100vw, 309px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Large boxes, 117 x 52 x 28 mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Large boxes of 500 wax matches were produced by Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Allumettes Chimiques, which changed its name to&nbsp; <strong>Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Allumettes Chimiques pour la France et l\u2019\u00e9tranger<\/strong> in 1885 and closed in 1889.&nbsp;We can easily imagine that the sales volume of these boxes was low.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3485\" class=\"alignright fixed\" style=\"width: 300px;\"><a class=\"zoom-hover fb\" data-fancybox-group=\"post-1718\" data-fancybox-title=\"Tisons boxes, 1887 &#8211; 1910, most 50 x 37 x 21 mm\" href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3485 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-1024x513.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-768x385.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-120x60.jpg 120w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-56x28.jpg 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-1090x546.jpg 1090w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-535x268.jpg 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-350x175.jpg 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-258x129.jpg 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-1140x571.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01-112x56.jpg 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-01.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Tisons boxes, 1887 &#8211; 1910, most 50 x 37 x 21 mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tisons<\/strong> matches were found in several countries including Sweden and Great Britain. The first Tisons were imported from Sweden in the mid-1880s before being manufactured in France from 1887 to around 1940. The size of the matches, the contents of the boxes and the selling prices evolved over time and allow the boxes to be dated. More Tisons boxes are shown in the gallery below, click on an image to enlarge it.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_2_placeholder\n<figure id=\"attachment_3486\" class=\"alignleft fixed\" style=\"width: 300px;\"><a class=\"zoom-hover fb\" data-fancybox-group=\"post-1718\" data-fancybox-title=\"Advertising boxes, 1920s, 62 x 35 x 15 mm\" href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3486 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-300x173.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-1024x592.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-768x444.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-104x60.jpg 104w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-56x32.jpg 56w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-1090x630.jpg 1090w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-535x309.jpg 535w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-350x202.jpg 350w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-258x149.jpg 258w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-1140x659.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14-112x65.jpg 112w, https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Expo-14.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Advertising boxes, 1920s, 62 x 35 x 15 mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the early 20th Century it became common to use matchbox labels for advertising. Match advertising in France began in 1924. These are some rare advertising boxes from the late 1920s, all for Cigarette brands except the very rare box &#8220;Engagez vous dans la marine&#8221;. The gallery below includes some larger advertising boxes (100 matches) from the 1940s which are also rare, click on an image to enlarge it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ngg_shortcode_3_placeholder<em>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/on-line-exhibition\/\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a> to return to the Exhibition Catalogue.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exhibitor : St\u00e9phane Pinaud In 1831 Charles Sauria invented phosphorus friction matches by replacing antimony sulphide with white phosphorus in John Walker&#8217;s formula. White phosphorus would remain a primary component of matches until 1906 when it was outlawed by the Berne Convention. The beginnings of the French match industry can be traced to 1832 where [&hellip;] <a href=\"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/on-line-exhibit-french-match-industry\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<i class=\"icon-arrow-line-right\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1718","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1718"}],"version-history":[{"count":59,"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7294,"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718\/revisions\/7294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}