Birds of Jurong Bird Park

Award-winning matchbook covers from an aviary in Singapore

Designer				Tay Thian Song
Client				Jurong Bird Park
Year				1971

Matchbooks featuring the Scarlet Macaws, Fish Owl and Black Palm Cokcatoo.

Matchbooks featuring the Crown Pigeons, Flamingos, Peafowl, Sulphur Breasted Toucan, Scarlet Macaw, Parrot and Lady Amherst Pheasant.

Dimensions: 50 x 80 x 5 mm
Manufacturer: Golden Light Matches Company

These set of matchboxes were created to coincide with the official opening of an aviary in the western part of Singapore in 1971. They were designed by Mr Tay Thian Song, a retiree and matchbook collector who began creating his own "fancy matchbooks and postcards" as they were unavailable in Singapore. He worked with local manufacturer Golden Light Matches Company to produce these covers.

These matchbooks were likely the designs that won second place at the 31st Annual Rathkamp Matchcover Societ Convention in San Diego, USA, and also received commendations from the British Matchbox Label and Booklet Society as well as the Australian Match Cover Collectors' Society. They were so popular that Jurong Bird Park allowed 12 more new designs that year. Mr Tay also subsequently designed matchbook covers featuring stamps as well as scenes of Singapore

Featured on this series of matchbooks is also the original logo of Jurong Bird Park, which featured three white swans flying against a waterfall. It was replaced in 1986.

References				"A fresh image and identity." The Straits Times, 9 April, 1988, 2. "Designs to match the best." New Nation, 9 November 1971, 16. "More park birds on matchbox covers." The Straits Times, 26 November 1971, 8. "Pensioner starts business for hobbyists." New Nation, 5 August 1971, 2.