![]() ![]() He has rare and valuable pieces from major manufacturers like Federal (NSW) and Bryant & May (Victoria) plus samples from long-forgotten Australian companies like Duncan's and Safeway. ''It's not a collection, more a hoarding,'' he says, though he is starting to realise that however you describe it, his matchbox treasures could be a valuable asset one day if another collector wanted to pick the eyes out of them. Recently retired after 28 years in the NSW Police Force, George Seymour has been a matchbox collector for most of his life. The organisation produces a regular club magazine. This is about the norm for complete boxes in mint condition from the pre-war period.įor those who are interested in matchbox collecting, there is an Australian Match Cover Collectors Society based in Melbourne. Soon afterwards, owners of this archive were offered as much as $100 an item but with the passing of time things have settled a little and the current market value for early Federal pieces is about $25 a box. In this way, the rich history of the company was partly preserved. One sales manager who had a large stack of old Federal samples, some dating back to the 1920s, donated them to members of the Sydney collecting fraternity. In 1975, when the Federal Match factory in Park Road, Alexandria, closed down, at least some of the company's archive was saved. The Sydney equivalent also has its supporters. These are so scarce that any surviving examples are worth about $100 to collectors. ![]() In 1979, a special edition was produced for export to Kiribati. This year, cartoonists revamped the design yet again when red-headed Julia Gillard came into power. The first two designs seemed to give her a personality in a way that no other matchbox has. ![]() She was changed again in the 1970s and, according to most, has since lost her original spirit. Such was its popularity that the label remained unchanged until 1958, when ''she'' was allowed an updated hairstyle. The first Redheads design was created by Brymay in 1946. Those celebrating special occasions, such as the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, are now quite valuable, worth about $75 in top condition. These were made to fit over a box of matches for protection in a pocket or purse. Matchbox grips, made of cellulose, are another collectable area. Safety matches, with their ability to extinguish themselves, were the result of what must have been a rash of spot fires in Edwardian times. These were lit by rubbing them along a ribbed groove in the bottom, then often as not dropped while still alight. Their value is from $100 up to $250 for exceptional pieces.Īn engraved name and date adds value, as does the inclusion of some original wax matches. Before mass-produced cardboard boxes, these were a status symbol, often given as presents. These are often silver- or gold-plated and sometimes engraved. Some of the rare historical items are worth considerable amounts, such as the elaborate Wax Vesta containers produced in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. ![]()
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