Japanese Matchbox Animal Labels Sticker Sheet

The Story

This sheet gathers four of the finest animal labels in the archive onto a single vinyl sheet, a small anthology of the export matchbox trade at its most characterful. Top left, the Nippon Match elephant strides beneath a rising sun, finely engraved in dark line work with the maker's name, Nippon Match Mfg. Co. Ltd., along the base. Top right, a second elephant reclines in a red oval framed by corner portrait medallions, bearing the unusual dual mark "Printed in Japan, Made in Burma." Bottom left, the Nippon Match dragon coils across a pink ground in deep teal, one of the most striking color combinations in the whole collection. Bottom right, a bear and a tiger face off across a red field, the Chinese characters 熊虎印 reading "bear and tiger brand," a bold pairing of two of the most powerful animals in East Asian symbolism.

Together the four labels tell the story of the trade in miniature: elephants for the South and Southeast Asian markets, dragons and tigers carrying their auspicious and protective weight across the Chinese-speaking world, all of them printed in Japan during the golden age of export matchbox design. The engraving quality across the set is exceptional, and seeing them side by side reveals just how inventive and far-reaching this small commercial art form really was.

As a vinyl sticker sheet the four labels are reproduced at full fidelity, ready to peel and place wherever they will be appreciated, on a laptop, a notebook, a guitar case, a window.

Who Is It For

This sheet is for the collector, the design lover, the person who decorates the things they carry with real intention. They are drawn to the animals, to the fine engraving, to the layered history of the export trade, and to the pleasure of having four of the archive's best labels in one place. It makes a genuine gift for anyone into vintage print, Japanese design, or beautifully drawn beasts, and it lets them spread a little of the archive across their own world.

Available Colors

White: The white vinyl gives the four labels their fullest, most accurate color, the cream grounds, deep reds, teal dragon and engraved animals all reading at full saturation. The classic choice and the most faithful to the originals.

Holographic: The holographic vinyl adds a shifting iridescence beneath the four labels, catching the light as it moves and giving the antique designs a contemporary, eye-catching finish. Note that white cannot be printed on holographic stock.

Transparent: The transparent vinyl lets the surface beneath show through around the designs, for a cleaner, more integrated look once applied. Note that white cannot be printed on transparent stock.

About the Collection

Every design in the Ichinichi Collection is sourced from a personal archive of original Japanese matchbox labels spanning 1880 to 1940. This sheet brings together four of the archive's finest animal labels, two elephants, a dragon and a bear-and-tiger pairing, spanning the South Asian, Burmese and Chinese-speaking export markets and showcasing the inventiveness and reach of Japanese matchbox design at its peak.

Product Details

Material: Water-resistant vinyl. Quantity: One sheet per listing, four designs. Versions: White, holographic and transparent. Suitable for indoor and short-term outdoor use. Note: White cannot be printed on transparent or holographic stickers. Small details close together may be cut as one shape. Assembled in the USA from globally sourced parts.