Match Made in Heaven

  Whilst many cigarette manufacturers included a collectible card in the pack, Bryant & May went a step further and included a small paper token in boxes of ‘Redhead’ brand safety matches. These were mostly available in Australia, with most collectible match boxes appearing in Europe. Very rare in the U.K, this full set was supplied by a gentleman in Australia.

Each paper is a couple of inches high and printed on quite rough stock, quite cheaply produced, but durable enough to be kept as a collectible if required. Redheads produced many different sets over time, with subjects ranging from history and mythology, to architecture and nature. The name .redhead, presumably being slang for the pinkish red striker on the match itself.

Each little token shows an image from Space history, beginning somewhat oddly, with Sputnik 3, and moving quite out of historical sequence, through important events in the space race. For example, Yuri Gagarin is immediately followed by a design for a future moon base and a 21st century space station and later the moon landing is followed by the first American astronaut and a German Me 163 rocket powered fighter and Robert Hitchens Goddard appear later still.

However, continuity issues aside, the artwork for each token is beautifully rendered in a simple line and wash style, reminiscent of a block print. The images are clearly identifiable as the vehicles and personages they depict, but have a wonderfully abstract and painterly feel to them, which makes each one a great little miniature design.