Fig. 12: Shani, half brother of Yama, is the god of karma, justice, and retribution, his vahana being a crow, Ravi Udaya & Vijay Press print, 1912, 35.56 cm x 25.40 cm. Susan Meller Collection, California.

Fig. 11: Yama, the god of death astride Paundraka his black buffalo vahana, Ravi Varma Press print, 1920s, 35.56 cm x 25.4 cm. Susan Meller Collection, California.

Fig. 10: Agni, red god of fire, the mediator between the gods and men, the protector of the hearth, and the personification of sacrificial fires. His vahana is a ram, the usual animal offered in animal sacrifices, textile label, circa 1920s-30s, 15.24 cm x 12.06 cm. Susan Meller Collection, California.

Fig. 09: Shashthi, the protector of young children and the goddess of fertility and birth, atop her cat vahana, textile label, circa 1900, 17.78 cm x 14.60 cm. Susan Meller Collection, California.

Fig. 08: Chandra, the pale lunar deity riding in a chariot pulled by his antelope vahana, Ravi Varma Press print, circa 1910, 35.56 cm x 25.4 cm. Susan Meller Collection, California.

Fig. 07: Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts, is the wife of Brahma the Creator. Depicted playing her lute while on her peacock vahana, this image is based on a Ravi Varma Press print, textile label, circa 1910, 17.78 cm x 13.97 cm. Susan Meller Collection, California.

MAHADEVA, SAFETY MATCHES, TRADE MARK, M.S. AZIZUDDIN, Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [24.297.008]

MADE IN INDIA, TOWER, 50’s SAFETY MATCHES, A.P. AGENCIES, MADRAS-2., Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [11.211.006]

TOWER MATCHES, 10 PS. SINDCO-2. SATTUR, KALAIVANI MATCH WORKS, SATTUR, Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [11.211.005]

Sant Tukaram, A.E.MATCHESWALA, Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [sof20.019.003]

FIDDLE, PRICE RE 0-04, SAFETY MATCHES, PRABHAT MATCH FACTORY, ETTAYAPURAM, Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [26.380.003]

DAMRU, PMF, 50’s, PRICE 17 Ps., SAFETY MATCHES, SRI RAMNATHA MATCH WORKS, KULATHULVAIPATTI, Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [26.280.001]

BIGUL BRAND, SAFETY MATCHES, PRICE 10 PAISE, NANU RAM JAI BHAGWAN, NAYA BANS, DELHI-6, Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [26.118.004]

MURLIDHAR, MADE IN AUSTRIA, Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [13.069.004]

FLUTE BOY, SAFETY MATCHES, MADE IN SWEDEN, Printed matchbox label, early-mid 20th c., 3.5 cm x 5 cm, Gautam Hemmady Collection, New Delhi, India. [13.070.002]