My name is Henk Claessen, I am 69 years old and live in Sittard, the Netherlands. At the age of seven I started collecting match labels. When the children came into my family, the hobby fade into the background. A few years ago I fanatically resumed my old hobby. I only collect labels, mainly the old (pre-war) labels from the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Japan.
However, I also have a lot of labels from all over the world. (I think about 150,000 pieces at the moment) Japanese labels are my favorites, even if I can't read a word of Japanese. The early colored letterpress prints are heavenly. I try to translate the texts more often, which is not that easy. My Japan collection, mostly from the Meiji period (1868-1912), contains around 10,000 labels, including around 700 package labels.
The best thing is when I can get labels in an original booklet. These booklets were issued by the manufacturer or used by agents and contain an average of 100 to 400 pieces. I to like search for abnormalities, like wrong spelling, misprints, violation of the copy-right, that wasn’t invented in the early Meiji period. So, in a pleasant way, I’m quite busy with my hobby.
In 2024 I contributed to the book "Tobacco of the Emperor". (a guide to imperial Japanese cigarettes) I have researched the history of the Japanese match label and some cigarette match labels are also included in the book.
1 Japan: Leisure activities woodblock prints/letterpress print, 1865-1914. (Meiji period)
2 Japan: Various themes, package labels, woodblock prints/letterpress print, 8.5 cm. x 6 cm. 1865-1914. (Meiji period)
3 Japan: Bar advertising labels, letterpress print, 1920-1930 (Showa period)
4 Japan: Different types of boats, woodblock prints/letterpress print 1865-1914. (Meiji period)
5 Japan: Playing children, package labels, woodblock prints/letterpress print, 8.5 cm. x 6 cm. 1865-1914. (Meiji period)
6 Japan: Different ape labels, woodblock prints/letterpress print, 5.5cm. x 3.5cm. 1865-1914. (Meiji period), a much used theme.
7 Japan: Different elephant labels, woodblock prints/letterpress print, 5.5cm. x 3.5cm. 1865-1914. (Meiji period), a much used theme.
8 Germany: A package label for Bengal matches, letterpress print, 8.5 cm. x 6 cm. +/- 1900
9 India: Box labels for Bengal matches, letterpress print, 5.5cm. x 3.5cm. Date unknown.
10 India: Various box labels. +/- 1940-1960
11 Different countries: Various eagle box labels, +/- 1900-1920.
12 Sweden: various box labels for Indian market, +/- 1900.
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