The Last Lucifer Match. Pipe-smoking man in greatcoat c1865.

$65.00

Antique print of man smoking a pipe. "The Last Lucifer Match," by J.T. Lucas, in the Exhibition of the British Institution. "…A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs…"

Original fine engraving by W. Thomas after John Templeton Lucas (1836-1880), published in The Illustrated London News on April 21, 1865 (later hand-colour). John Templeton Lucas exhibited landscape paintings at the Royal Academy, the British Institution, and other galleries. From a family of artists, J.T. Lucas was the oldest son of portrait painter, John Lindsay Lucas (1807-1874).

Instant illumination sticks were used in China as early as the sixth century, but it was not until 1826 that John Walker, a chemist of Stockton on Tees, invented the first friction match in England (accidentally). He did not patent his invention and Samuel Jones of London launched his version as "Lucifers" in 1829. The use of 'yellow' phosphorous during manufacture resulted in factory employees contracting phosphorus-necrosis which became known as 'phossy jaw' and 'lucifer disease', so Lucifer matches were subsequently banned.

The printed caption below the picture is complete but the edges of the page are damaged. Page size is 405 x 275mm (approximately 16 x 11 inches). Image size is 300 x 240mm (11 3/4 x 9 3/8 inches).