Gustaf Erik Pasch granted privilege for the safety match

Background. Safety matches differ from strike-anywhere matches because they require a specially prepared surface for ignition. The major innovation involved using red phosphorus on this separate striking surface rather than on the match head itself. This design concept was developed in 1844 by Gustaf Erik Pasch, a Swedish inventor and professor of chemistry at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

Invention and Privilege. Pasch is primarily known for his invention of the safety match. In 1844, he was granted a patent for this specific design. His work focused on the mechanism of the striking surface, which distinguished his safety match from earlier friction matches that used white phosphorus or antimony trisulfide directly on the match head.

Commercial Aftermath. Although Pasch held the patent, he did not become wealthy from the invention. The safety match became commercially successful only after Johan Edvard Lundström and his brother Carl Frans improved upon Pasch's design. Their improvements led to a large-scale industry in Jönköping, Sweden, with commercial success occurring around 1855–1860.