What makes the world of Matchbox cars so charming and captivating to this day are not only the models themselves, but also, at first glance, beautiful boxes that are easily recognizable from other manufacturers, which, even if they are fifty years old, attract attention and attract you to buy.
With simple, delicate and distinctive graphics, not only the Models of Yesteryear series have played an important role in creating the phenomenon and they are an inseparable part of every collection.
But their journey, from pictorial illustrations by artists Ron Jobson and Derek Arthur Stowe, to a printed paper box in a distribution network, was much longer than it is today.

Collectors Note: The initial models were packed in little matchbox type boxes and in most cases the model was downsized to fit the box. Collecting the different box types created for the Yesteryear range is intriguing without a doubt. Various boxes have been produced and attempting to collect one of each in all the different ranges can be extremely fulfilling. Some are hard to source while others are a little easier to come by.
The boxes are generally described by a letter and sometimes a number. The scheme for catagorising the boxes has been developed by collectors over the years and I have tried to create a summary to make it a little easier to identify the various boxes and their differences but, as you can see, it is a subject that can be studied and researched on its own. The notes on these boxes are only a basic guide.

Early Card Type Boxes 1956 - 1968

A-type

B-type

C-type

D1-type

D2-type

D3-type

E-type

E1-type

Window Type Boxes 1968 - 1995

F-type

G-type

H-type

I-type

J-type

J1-type

J2-type

K-type

L-type

M-type

M1-type

N-type

N1-type

N2-type

N3-type

Later Card Type Packaging 1995 - 2000

O-type

O1-type

O2-type

P-type

Q-type

Q1-type

Q2-type

Q3-type

Q4-type

Q5-type

R-type

R1-type