Jean Birsens: Matchbox Collector for over 40 years

Patrick Wehr, AKA ptkwr52 is our European correspondent for all matters Automobilia. Read all of his reports here.

Like many of us, Jean Birsens played with Matchbox cars and Siku cars on the carpet in his living room, a carpet which was a Highway, a City and many other interesting places. Unlike most though, Jean’s make-believe world blossomed into a real-life museum today.

Jean (right) with our European Correspondent Patrick Wehr

Starting with hand-me-downs, Jean now owns his own Matchbox Museum with more than 11,000 models, including Early Lesney, Regular Wheels, Models of Yesteryear, Major Packs, King-Size, Accessory Packs and other Matchbox related items. Rarities include pre-series cars, unique models, playsets, pre-production models, resins, color variations, horse carousels, Matchbox games and more. You can even find MBX for children from 0-5 years, original displays, model kits and so many others. Incredibly, about 95% of his MBX collection is in mint condition with only original boxes, including unopened reseller boxes.

His wife Meg has also collected since 1995. Meg’s preference are so-called “Figural Biscuit Tins” of the brands Huntley & Palmers, Peak Frean, William Crawford, Olibet and coffee cans of Santos, Jacobs, Stollwerck and Banania and even vintage Barbie dolls. Her collection of pretty tin cans now amounts to almost 2000 pieces from the years 1886-1950.

So let’s enter this incredible Museum and enjoy all the awesome cars, sets and other things which we will find on our tour.