Prentice W. von Wettberg collection of matchbox labels

Friction matches were invented by an English chemist, John Walker, in 1826. The first matchbox label was for Walker's own brand, "Friction Lights." But the first true, although crude label was designed and used by N. Jones and Company, Walker's chief rival, in 1830. As the manufacture of matches spread beyond England into many parts of the world, so too did the design of the box labels. By 1880 labels had become colorful or unusual enough that many collectors began to value them highly.

The Japanese were particularly successful in the match industry because of a wider availability of cheap labor than competing countries such as Sweden. Kobe was the main seat of the match industry in Japan, but other cities are occasionally seen on labels. Many of the matches were created for export, particularly to Southeast Asia and China, but some of the more interesting labels were for local markets only.