Cardinal matches were not made in Saint Louis. The factory was located in Hull, Canada. A US Federal revenue agent was there to see that the stamps were properly applied to packages. Lower Canadian production costs coupled with no necessity to unpack the matches to apply stamps on entry to the US made the product very competitive in price. This had repercussions all over the country, and is the probable cause of formation of the Diamond Match cartel.

Cardinal Match stamps were issued from March of 1880 into May of 1881. 13,530,000 were issued on watermarked paper.

A card prood of the Cardinal match stamp

An India trial color proof mounted on cardboard.