Japanese Matchbox Labels

Much like stamp collecting, there is a secret world of matchbox collectors just waiting to get their hands on the next big (but in reality very small) treasure. To be honest, I've never really understood what people would want to do with hundreds of miniature collectibles, however, after finding this flickr set of vintage matchbox labels I might consider becoming one of those crazy collectors. The detail and artistic precision on each of these tiny labels is remarkable. Each piece could just as easily be a poster, making the fact that it was created on a 4x6 centimeter space even more amazing. Most of these date back to the early 20th century when Japan's expanding industrial base fueled rapid growth in commercial art. The intricate graphic design work on these matchbox labels helped develop brand recognition and sales for the matchbox industry. ••••