INDIAN NATIONAL FLAG ON MATCHBOX LABELS

The word  Phillumeny is derived from Greek phil  i.e. loving + lumen i.e. light.  It was coined by Marjorie S. Evans of the British Matchbox Label & Booklet Society in 1943.  Phillumeny  is the hobby of collecting different match-related items, viz., matchboxes, matchbox labels, matchbox-safes, etc.

Here are two title pages of the Match Label News, the official journal of the British Matchbox Label and Bookmatch Society.

History;

First practical matches were made in England in 1827by a druggist, John Walker. The first safety matches, which light only on a prepared surface, were made in Sweden in 1845. Safety matches made of cardboard or heavy paper and put in a tiny  folded packets were invented by Joshua Pusey of Pennsylvania, USA in 1892. There were many trials in match making in Europe and America. Before 1905, all matches were single topped; then silent ‘double dipped’ matches were developed.

 British Union Jack and Ensign on early Indian matches (Pre-independence)

 A Swedish make matchbox showing Indian theme, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and his famous composition 'Bande Mataram'.

India make matches were flourished in cottage industries since Swadeshi movement days (national awakening) competing with both imported matches, mainly from Sweden, Austria and Japan, as well as, indigenous big manufacturing houses.  
Matchbox labels were utilised and employed for Swadeshi (meaning 'self rule') Propaganda, since it could be produced cheaply in cottage industry. Matchboxes were widely distributed/available. These labels penetrated every households and could be seen everywhere  carrying  images with attractive and appealing designs. Many interesting images in the form of matchbox labels came out during Swadeshi movement days. I am prompted to present here a few of such matchbox labels which depicted Swadeshi (national) flags for the discerning readers.  

here the Sivaji image is an example of anachronism. Sivaji Bhosle (1627-1680) just can not fly a tricolour Swadeshi flag which came into being in 1921.

 

The slogan reads  "Boycott Foreign Goods and use Swadeshi Products"; M.N.Mehta, Calcutta, Maunufacturer of the Best Matches

"Swaraj is our Birth Right", the famous slogan of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Bengali, Rampuria brand matches of Calcutta

  

Kamaldevi Chattopadhyay (1903-1988) and Swaraj Flag 

 

Some more Examples of Swaraj Flags; White over Green over Red (1921-1931)

Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) Flag, Saffron over White over Green (1931-1947)

"Flag Salutation"

Islamic Flags of pre-independence (prior 1947) period

Bonhomie between Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League (Khilafat Movement 1919-1922)

Netaji Subhas Bose, Supreme Commander of the  Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fouj) and Purna Swaraj Flag.

POST INDEPENDENCE MATCHBOX

Dawn of Independence :  The National Flag of Free India

'Father of the Nation' and the National Flag

Indian National Flag:Post-independence period 

According to Flag Code of India, published by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Flag shall not be used for commercial purposes in violation of the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.