Svalan (The Swallow) safety matches

Svalan, also known as 'The Swallow' or 'De Zwaluw', is an iconic brand of safety matches with a history dating back to 1895. The matches depicted are paraffin-coated safety matches, originally produced at the Uddevalla Tändsticksfabrik (Uddevalla Match Factory) in Sweden. This factory was a significant part of Sweden's industrial history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Today, the brand is part of the extensive portfolio of Swedish Match AB. While many historical match factories have closed or merged, Swedish Match remains the steward of these classic labels. The brand is particularly well-known in Northern Europe and the Netherlands for its distinctive swallow logo and vintage aesthetic. The manufacturing remains primarily centered in Sweden, where the technology for safety matches was pioneered by Gustaf Erik Pasch and later commercialized by the Lundström brothers.