Phillumenists Unite!

So this makes a nice change - a mysterious parcel arrives and it turns out to be a collection of old matchbox labels and magazines sent from France by a "friend" on Facebook. A nice letter explains he promised me these years ago but it's news to me. Seems he stayed with us once when I was a student in Manchester in the late 60's. A friend of one of my flat mates. What a turn up! I love old ephemera of course so happy to rummage through the box and even found one with Southend Pier on the front - all fuzzy and yellow and bearing the tell take marks of degraded sellotape. The box label not the pier - although it did look a bit shabby the last time I saw it. So heres a few photos of some of the more interesting examples. We usually pop along to the phillumenists (matchbox collectors) fair that sets up stalls and has an auction in the local leisure centre every September - but we missed it last year. Its amazing how cheap they are - 5p each for beautiful Indian matchbox labels depicting elephants, tigers, temples and exotic views of Kashmir etc. Anyway, it makes a nice change from our walks round the local park!

North West Phillumenists

Nice wander round the artisan market and then onto the North West Phillumenists meet up at the Memorial Court ( on until 4 I think ). Excellent displays of cigarette and matchbox related ephemera and some going for very cheap prices. Hazel even got a nice book given to her for nothing! Bought tons of labels for our collection and few boxes of matches too. Very friendly folk all willing to chat about their intriguing hobby. Could have spent longer there and bought more stuff but an hour seemed long enough and we had plenty to sort through when we got home