SOUVENIR MATCHES

Box of safety matches made by Bryant and May for P&O. Shipping. The box is full and contains 53 large matches with black heads. It is a sliding box with yellow labels and blue paper covred slide. The cover and the bottom of the slide is made from cardboard, the sides of the slide are thin chip (wood). One label contains the following information: 'AVERAGE CONTENTS/ 70 MATCHES' and the P&O. logo. This is a circle divided into 4 with a shield in the centre. Each section contains a picture. At the top of the circle is a sun rising above the ocean. There is a large flag on either side, one with two diagonal lines dividing it into four, containing the colours red, white, blue and yellow. The other is white with a red diagonal cross. Above the left flag are the letters 'P&O.', in the centre is '(P. AND O.)' and a scroll bearing the inscription 'QUIS SEPARABIT' and below this are the letters '(B.I.S.Co)'.
The other side of the box has the same logo reproduced in the centre. Above it is a scroll with the words 'BRYANT & MAY'S' and below is 'BRYMAY SAFETY MATCH/ BRITISH MADE'. On each side of the last two words are a medallion. The one on the right appears to be the one won at the Great Exhibition in London in 1862. It is not clear if the one on the left is the obverse of this or another medallion.

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Collection

History Collection

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