Cries of London - Matches

The picture is called Do you Want Any Matches? - What were sold as matches by street sellers were far removed from the self-igniting products in use today. The early counterparts were simple splints of wood, home-made by both adults and children in the cottages surrounding London. Sharpened at one end, the matches were dipped in sulphur, and were used for catching the sparks struck from flints and steel, being quicker and easier to light than tinder commonly in use

Although each call was probably quite individual this is one of them;
Buy my matches, my nice small pointed matches. Do you want any matches maids? Buy my matches, my nice small pointed matches.

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