This web site is for collectors of matchbox labels and associated material. It has no connection with matchbox model cars or any die cast models.
The site has been designed to accommodate the latest browsers and computer systems.   However, it is fully compatible to many earlier
 versions.  Ideally, a screen resolution of 1280 x 1024 or greater should be used but resolutions down to 1024 x 768 can be
 accommodated but, usually with a lesser degree of sharpness and a likelihood of both vertical & horizontal scrolling.
 Click the browser back arrow at top left to go back - Do not click the red/black cross on the right unless you wish to exit the web site completely

The Sussex Matchbox Labels Worldwide Simplified Encyclopaedia runs into many hundreds of pages and as such would probably be far too costly for any one individual to purchase in paperback or hardback form.  It is therefore my intention to produce this tome using digital media - that is to say, both DVD and the Internet.   Hopefully, producing the Encyclopaedia in this format will induce other collectors worldwide to assist and participate in filling the many gaps that exist within the Encyclopaedia.  Logically, these gaps exist solely as a result of the fact that as the compiler, I can only subscribe to owning a percentage of the labels produced since the origins of the matchbox label and not all of them.

I am loathe to plagiarize the attempts of others as I know that I would not be happy if it was my work that was being plagiarized.  However, notwithstanding that, many rare and one off labels are held in private collections, museums, match companies, etc., and therefore, in such cases, it may be the only way that a record can be made that such a label exists.

So often when reading through the attempts made by others to educate us collectors/compilers, I come across the words “believed to have existed but no known copies survive”.  When you think, it is really a damning comment on society that we allow little bits of our heritage or history to disappear to extinction.  Fortunately, there are still many collectors around the world who care about the history of those little bits of paper and cardboard that we call the matchbox label or matchbox and it is those collectors who keep this hobby alive. 

Over the past few weeks I have been creating album pages specifically for uploading onto the web.  These album pages have been created using a software programme totally unassociated  with Net Objects Fusion - the software programme used to build the core of this web site - and therefore cannot be integrated into the site as such.  However, the album pages are located within the hosted domain server and therefore accessible through this core web site.

Initially, I am uploading complete sets or series of labels from numerous countries around the world and therefore, I hope that there will be labels on-line that will cater for the tastes of many collectors as opposed to the few.

As collectors, I think we all attempt to create some form of ‘provenance’ in respect of the labels within our collections and in this respect, as a collector/compiler, I am no different.  However, the provenance that I am listing relates solely to the following information:

1. The title or name of the set or series along with the total number of labels within that set or series.
    
2. Whether a packet label or labels accompanies the set or series.  Please note packet labels issued to accompany sets or series are always listed after the last box label of the set or series.  However, where a complete set or series of packet labels are produced in identical format to the box labels, these will always be listed as a set or series in their own right.
    
3. The number of the label within the set or series and where displayed, the total number of labels in the set or series.
    
4. The country of origin as stated on the label or likely country of origin if known.  It should be noted that the likely country of origin will always be displayed in italics.
    
5. The year of issue - normally prefixed with the letter C or c for circa date or R or r for Registration date where this is specifically identified.
    
6. The type of match and physical contents where known and price per box if disclosed.
    
7. The size of the label as measured overall in millimeters (mm) where such labels have no borders or margins or where text is placed in such borders or margins, or, the size of such labels measured in millimeters (mm) between the borders or margins where they exist on the label.  It should be noted that “All Round The Box” labels are always measured overall but individual panel sizes may also be displayed where it is known that variations exist within those panels.
    
8. The details of the manufacturer or distributor where such details are disclosed on the labels.

There are strict guidelines relating to sets or series of labels.  Labels are identified as a series when the text on the label indicates as such or when the text states <number> of <number>.  Labels identified as sets are those which are numbered but do not indicate that that they are part of a series.  Sets are also labels which were produced as a compilation by the manufacturer and issued as such but give no numerical identity that they are or were part of a set.

Page History:
Initially Produced on  27th September 2008
Updated & Uploaded on 11th September 2009

114