The Red Cross

This is Norway's most famous label and possibly one of the most famous in the world of the collector.  This label has been the centre of more controversies than any other.

The brand first appeared in 1883 as a red sulphur match label and there were no objections.  Then trouble started as the International Red Cross emblem is forbidden to be reproduced for commercial purposes, so as an outcome of the Geneva Convention, the label was withdrawn in 1915 and superseded by the well known "Blue Cross" labels.

During its existence the "Red Cross" was issued in several sizes, but astonishingly few specimens seem to have survived.

See an enlarged images of these labels in the Gallery.