Soviet Art

USSR Culture

The USSR Industry Achievements matchbox labels

The USSR Industry Achievements matchbox labels

1959 matchstick box label. Children’s toy. From the series The USSR Industry Achievements matchbox labels

The USSR Industry Achievements matchbox labels
The match-sticker label, after the revolution and complete nationalization of match factories dramatically changed its content and purpose. On the labels began to print ideological appeals and slogans, and information about various events, advertising products and services. In the USSR, Phillumeny, in contrast to the numismatics dealing with precious metals, was strongly supported. At the same time, being the most mass media in the USSR (label production reached hundreds of millions), match labels underwent strict censorship. Accordingly, until the middle of the 1950s, every match label was approved with the resolution “Corresponds to the print allowed by Gorlit.”
Meanwhile, in the days of Stalin, it was forbidden to portray the portraits of the “leader of the peoples” on the labels. However, the slogans praising him were greeted. Later, when censorship reduced, a huge number of highly professional mini masterpieces appeared. Never thrown away, they became the collectibles. In fact, they featured all spheres of the life of Soviet society: from everyday objects to flight into space. Soviet people, as well as our contemporaries, carefully considered, exchanged and collected black and white, multicolored, souvenir, greeting and advertising matchboxes made in the Soviet Union.

Matchbox labels 'Achievements of Science and Tecnique'

Matchbox labels ‘Achievements of Science and Tecnique’

USSR Industry Achievements matchbox labels

The computer-controlled machine and heavy duty telescope. 1958. The USSR Industry Achievements matchbox labels

The computer-controlled machine and heavy duty telescope. 1958. The USSR Industry Achievements matchbox labels

Automated rotary milking machine Moskvichka.1963

Automated rotary milking machine Moskvichka.1963

Automatic interplanetary station Mars 1. 1963

Automatic interplanetary station Mars 1. 1963

Birth of diamond. 1963

Birth of diamond. 1963

Earth satellite, from the series of Matchbox labels 'Achievements of Science and Tecnique', 1958, USSR

Earth satellite, from the series of Matchbox labels ‘Achievements of Science and Tecnique’, 1958, USSR

Exhibition of achievements of the USSR 1959 matchbox label

Exhibition of achievements of the USSR 1959 matchbox label

Hydrofoil

Hydrofoil

IL-62 Soviet long-range narrow-body jet airliner conceived in 1960 by Ilyushin. 1963 matchbox label

IL-62 Soviet long-range narrow-body jet airliner conceived in 1960 by Ilyushin. 1963 matchbox label

Industry of the USSR. From the series of the achievements of the USSR matchbox labels

Industry of the USSR. From the series of the achievements of the USSR matchbox labels

Lenin, Nuclear icebreaker. Matchbox labels 'Achievements of Science and Tecnique', 1958

Lenin, Nuclear icebreaker. Matchbox labels ‘Achievements of Science and Tecnique’, 1958

Made in 1961 in the USSR Hydrofoil Kometa

Made in 1961 in the USSR Hydrofoil Kometa

Nuclear icebreaker Lenin. 1963

Nuclear icebreaker Lenin. 1963

Nuclear power plant. From the series of Matchbox labels 'Achievements of Science and Tecnique', 1958, USSR

Nuclear power plant. From the series of Matchbox labels ‘Achievements of Science and Tecnique’, 1958, USSR

RG 1600 Rotor excavator', 1963, USSR

RG 1600 Rotor excavator’, 1963, USSR

Soviet newspapers, 1977, Kaunas, Vilnius

Soviet newspapers, 1977, Kaunas, Vilnius

Space exploration. 1963

Space exploration. 1963

The Kremlin Palace of Congresses. 1963 match label

The Kremlin Palace of Congresses. 1963 match label

The Tu-104, Matchbox labels 'Achievements of Science and Tecnique', 1958

The Tu-104, Matchbox labels ‘Achievements of Science and Tecnique’, 1958

Walking excavator, from the series of Matchbox labels 'Achievements of Science and Tecnique', 1958, USSR

Walking excavator, from the series of Matchbox labels ‘Achievements of Science and Tecnique’, 1958, USSR

Electric Power stations and construction sites. 1963

Electric Power stations and construction sites. 1963

Power stations and construction sites. 1963

Power stations and construction sites. 1963

Transport of the USSR

Transport of the USSR

Industry of the USSR

Industry of the USSR

Underground in the USSR

Underground in the USSR

Flax processor, Flax-seeder, Wheeled Tractor, Mower, Grain loader, Potato digger, Feed Dispenser, Bushcutter

Flax processor, Flax-seeder, Wheeled Tractor, Mower, Grain loader, Potato digger, Feed Dispenser, Bushcutter

Irkutsk airlines

Irkutsk airlines

From 3 cars in a minute in 1965 to 5 TV sets in a minute in 1961, and 2 houses a minute in 1965

Achievements: From 3 cars in a minute in 1965 to 5 TV sets in a minute in 1961, and 2 houses a minute in 1965