March of Match tax protesters, 24 April 1871. A procession of match makers to Westminster, London, England, protesting the proposed tax by Chancellor Robert Lowe, of halfpenny tax on each box of matches

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Illustration by William Douglas Almond (1866-1916) from Cassell's Century Edition History of England, pub circa 1901. March of Match tax protesters, 24 April 1871, procession of match makers to Westminster, London, England, protesting the proposed tax by Chancellor Robert Lowe, of halfpenny tax on each box of matches. The tax was seen as particularly unfair on the some of the poorest workers in the country, and was dropped amid a storm of opposition. It was not helped by his suggestion that the epigram ex luce lucellum (out of light a little profit) be put on each box, which was seen as a cynical attempt at humour at the expense of poor people.

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Size: 3281px × 2438px
Photo credit: © Historical Images Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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