Rare WW1 Weapons In Action 15-inch Howitzer Gas Masks Anti-Aircraft Gun Cigarette Cards

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I don’t think you could accuse this card set’s artist of glorifying and over glamorizing war. Some WW1 sets tend to look a bit staged and artificial, but this one has succeeded in capturing the dirt, grime and truly uncomfortable nature of war. This freedom of expression might be due to the fact that this set was issued towards the end of the war, hence the past tense being used in the descriptions on the backs of the cards. Throughout history knowledge and information have slowly eroded the power of the ruling elite, highlighting the corruption of the sixteenth century Roman Pope and inspiring people uprisings such as the American War of Independence, British Civil War, French Revolution etc. In WW1 the ailing ruling classes turned this normally democratic force against the people by successfully using propaganda. This propaganda, inspired by Freudian psychoanalytic theories, eventually backfired in the aftermath of the WW1 when the public realised how they had been so ruthlessly manipulated. The recent Arab uprisings have shown how difficult it is for dictators to hold back the truth when the channels of communications become faster and more difficult to control, as with mobile phones and social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Anyway, let’s get back to this card set. Although none of the cards mention anything about chemical warfare, most of the men pictured seem to be wearing gas masks, which I haven’t seen so much on other WW1 cards. More than 9 million combatants were killed in WW1, largely because of great technological advances in firepower without corresponding advances in mobility. These days their is a public outcry when one soldier dies let alone millions. The weapons in this set would certainly have contributed to the mass carnage of WW1.

Card #1 states that the 15-inch Howitzer “is able to hurl a shell weighing two-thirds of a ton a distance of 6 miles”. The description on the back of the card featuring the 8-inch Howitzer gun states that “over 380,000 tons of 8-inch shells were showered on to the Germans”. Card #5 states that “25 million 4.5 –inch Howitzer shells were fired in France alone”. The 6o-Pounder Gun, according to another card, fired 10 million rounds in the war and nearly 100 million rounds of 18-lb amunition were discharged.

Although mobility lagged way behind firepower, there are signs on these cards that it was improving. Heavier-than-air aircraft were used for military purposes for the first time in WW1, and as a result weapons were designed to counter them, such as the anti-aircraft gun pictured on card #8. The 9.2-inch gun’s “accuracy of aim” was helped by reconnaissance aircraft according to the description on the back of the card.

It states in the description on the back of the 8-Inch Howitzer card that “special tractors of the ‘caterpillar’ pattern were used for moving these Howitzers”. Those same caterpillar tractors inspired the designs of the first ever military tanks that made their debut towards the end of the war.

John Player & Son, Artillery In Action (WW1 Weapons), circa 1918 (12 cards)

Includes:12-inch Howitzer on Railway Mounting, 15-inch Howitzer in Position, 8-inch Howitzer, 9.2-inch Gun on Road Mounting, 18-Pounder Field Gun, 4.5-inch Howitzer, Early Anti-Aircraft Gun, 60-Pounder Gun, Light Vickers Machines Gun, Large Trench Mortar (operatives wearing gas masks), Lewis Automatic Gun, Stokes Trench Mortar

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1960's Elvis Presley and Tommy Steele 1st Ever British Rock and Roll Star ABC Trading Cards 1962

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This trade card set includes one of the most instantly recognisable personalities from the Rock ‘n’ Roll era, Elvis Presley. As you can imagine, cards depicting Elvis are very collectable and some fetch high prices at auction. Cliff Richard, pictured on card #6, was Britain’s answer to Elvis during his early career. He’s sold over 260 million records worldwide and he’s still going strong today, but I think he’s dropped the Elvis impersonation. Card #1 appropriately features Britain’s first rock and roll star, Tommy Steele.

Lonnie Donegan was known as the “King of Skiffle” and started performing before many of the singers featured in this card set. In fact, he is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s, such as the Beatles. This set also includes the chart toppers Adam Faith and Anthony Newley, both of whom were involved in acting as well as music.

Max Bygraves is mainly known as a comedian but also extended his repertoire to include singing and acting. Other British Comedians in this set include Charlie Drake and Arthur Haynes.

ABC Cinemas, Colorstars (Including Elvis Presley), 1962 (10 cards)

Includes:Tommy Steele, Elvis Presley, Cheyenne, Lonnie Donegan, Max Bygraves, Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Anthony Newley, Charlie Drake, Arthur Haynes

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Sexy 1930's Movie Stars Joan Crawford Marlene Dietrich Vintage Erotica Risque Cigarette Cards

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What links this card set to the multi Oscar winning film The Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. What connection do these humble cards that would have appeared in peoples’ homes across the country in 1930’s Britain have with Flash Gordon or Trazan and the Apeman. All will be revealed shortly.

I’ve done quite a few videos of vintage glamour card sets but this one is extra special because many of the beautiful ladies featured were also highly talented movie super stars, including Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich, both of whom started their careers during the Silent Era.

Gloria Stuart’s career was also very enduring, spanning 80 years. She appeared as 100-year-old Rose in her Academy Award nominated role in the film Titanic, 1997.

Priscilla Lawson also appeared in an iconic drama, playing the role as Princess Aura in the original Flash Gordon serial, 1936.Maureen Paula O’Sullivan, considered to be Ireland’s first movie star, starred as Jane Parker in Tarzan the Ape Man opposite co-star Johnny Weissmuller.

Claudette Colbert, a self confessed workaholic, was one of the best paid performers of the 1930s and 1940s. At the time, many of the women in this card set were considered to be the most beautiful women in the world. Clara Bow was a leading sex symbol during the Silent Era and continued to make movie appearances in the early 1930s. Betty Grable’s iconic bathing suit photo made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era and her legs were famously insured for $1M with Lloyds of London.

Not all the movie stars in this set had long careers, but that doesn’t necessary make them any less iconic. Carole Lombard was an extremely gifted actress whose life was tragically cut short by the crash of TWA Flight 3 in 1942.

Carreras, Film Stars, 2nd Series, 1939 (54 cards)

Includes:Adrienne Ames,Rose Asther,Pearl Argyle,Rosemary Ashlen,Wendy Barrie,Joan Blondell,Clara Bow,Grace Bradley,Mary Carlyle,June Clyde,Claudette Colbert,Joan Crawford,Olivia De Havilland,Frances Dee,Dolores Del Rio,Florence Desmond,Dallas Dexter, Marlene Dietrich,Adrienne Dore,Frances Drake,Ann Dvorak,Deanna Durbin,Patricia Ellis,Alice Faye,Grace Ford,Betty Furness,Betty Grable,Jean Gillie,Shirley Grey,Suzanne Kaaren,Evelyn Kelly,June Knight,Dorothy Lamour,Priscilla Lawson,Margaret Lindsay, Carole Lombard,Ida Lupino,Marian Marsh,Joan Marsh,Karen Morley,Sari Maritza,Marion Martin,Anna Neagle,Cecelia Parker,Jean Parker,Lilian Harvey,Lilian Porter,Maureen O'Sullivan,Elivina Shargood,Gloria Stuart,Raquelle Torres,Toby Wing,Terry Walker, Doris Weston

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1950's Comedians Benny Hill Film Stars Pat Boone Terry Thomas Memorabilia Snap Gum Trading

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This set features many celebrities who were popular in the 1950s and beyond and was issued by Snap Gum in 1959. Benny Hill, pictured in this set, was a very popular English comedian. His infectious cheeky humour, songs and impressions kept him on British television screens for 40 years. He had many high profile fans, including Charlie Chaplin, Michael Jackson, Burt Reynolds, Michael Caine and Mickey Rooney. Unfortunately, Hill became one of the many comedic victims of the rising wave of British political correctness and alternative comedy during the late 1980s. Following the cancellation of his show in 1989, Hill’s health declined and he died just a few years later.

This card set also features other English comedians, such as Arthur Haynes and Tommy Trinder. Two of England’s most loved comedy actors also make an appearance, including Bernard Bresslaw, who was a regular on the much loved British “Carry On” film series and Terry Thomas, famous for his portrayal of disreputable members of the upper classes.

This set also features several popular music stars, including Connie Francis, the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s; Pat Boone, who was the second biggest charting artist of the late 1950s, behind only Elvis Presley; and Lonnie Donegan, the “King of Skiffle”, who influenced many of the famous British bands of the 1960s.

The first half of the set includes photographic style images of the celebs and the 2nd half shows the same celebrities again but in the form of dot-to-dot images for the recipient to trace through to reveal the stars.

Snap Cards Gum, Dotto Celebrities, Benny Hill, 1959 (50 cards)

Includes:Benny Hill, Pat Boone, Connie Francis, Lonnie Donegan, Terry Thomas, Tommy Trinder, Arthur Haynes, Patricia Driscoll, David Whitfield, John Skeaping, Robin Day, Frankie Vaughan, Macdonald Hobley, Bruce Forsyth, Jack Jackson, Willoughby Goddard, Dickie Henderson, Richard Green, Bernard Bresslaw (Carry On film series), Conrad Phillips, Carol Naish, Ron Randall, Peggy Mount, David Kossoff, Broderick Crawford,

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Pre WW2 Police of the World USA New York NYPD Ireland Iraq UK Palestine History Memorabilia

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Not many cigarette card sets were issued on the police.

Cope Bros, The World's Police, 1937 (25 cards)

Includes Police From The Following Countries:England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Irish Free State, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Gold Coast, Soudan, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Soudan, Iraz, Palestine, USA, Burma, Federated Malay States (Malaysia), France, Holland,Greece, Sweden, Fiji Islands, Italy, Argentina

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Buiding WW2 Fighter Planes Bombers Life In the RAF 1930's Royal Air Force Cigarette Cards

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This detailed set shows life in the Royal Air Force prior to WW2

Cigarette Cards, W.A. & A.C. Churchman, The RAF At Work (48 cards), 1937

Includes:Fitters and Riggers Inspecting Fairey Battle Aircraft, Vickers Wellesley Bomber, Overseas Fitters Working on Rolls-Royce Kestrel Engine, Repairing Aeroplane in Desert, Overseas Motor Transport Fitters Repairing RAF Car, Repairing Machine Guns, Adjusting Torpedo, Wheeling Torpedo into Position, Instrument Makers Testing Gyroscopes, Instrument Maker Working Engraving Machine, Testing Revolution Indicator With Stroboscope, Adjusting Automatic Control, Calibrating Air-speed Indicator, Testing Air-speed Indicator, Sergeant Blacksmith at Work, Metal Worker Welding With High-Pressure Acetylene, Wireless Operator Mechanic Adjusting Wireless Set, Flight Mechanics Installing Engine in Test Bench, Flight Mechanic Examining Instrument Panel of Test Bench, Installing Engine Into Airframe, Maintenance of Engine and Testing Wireless Set, Starting Engine, Refuelling Aircraft, Refuelling Aeroplane in Desert, Inspecting Short Singapore III Flying-Boat, Flight Riggers Under Instruction at Henlow, Removing Wheel From
Undercarriage, Flight Riggers Topping-up Oleo-Leg, Wireless Operator Testing Installation, Cooks at Work, Parachute Repair Flight, Final Inspection of Pilot Parachute, Fabric Workers Covering Wing, Coxswain in Charge of Flying-boat Tender, Motor Boat and Crew, Machine Tool Setter Working on Lathe, Driver In Charge of Mobile Crane, Driver At Wheel of RAF Fire-Engine, Sergeant Pilot, Corporal Air Gunner Practising With Camera Gun, Airman Swinging the Aircrew, Parachute Jumping, Short Sunderland Flying-Boat, Lowering Float-Plane on to Sea, Army Co-Operation Aeroplane Picking Up Message, Armoured Cars Crossing The Desert, Airmen's Club At Abu Sueir in Egypt

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1920's Warriors Native Americans Zulus Papuan Headhunters Cossacks DC Thomson The Rover Comic Trading

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Great set of warrior cards with a Wild West themed sectional back, great if you're into jigsaws

The Rover Comic (D.C. Thomson), Warrior Cards (Sectional Picture Back)

Includes: Life Guardsman (Britain), "Sioux - Red Indian", Sikh Officer - Punjab, Zulu Fighter, Gordon Highlander, Dervish - Sudan, Foreign Legion - France, Australian Aborigine, Gurkha - Nepal, Solomon Islander, Spahi - North Africa, Patagonian - South America, Cossack - Russia, Papuan Headhunter - New Guinea, Bersaglieri - Italy, Abyssinian Giant, Bengal Lancer, Dayak - Borneo, British Marine, Congo Pigmy, British Airman (Airforce), Afridi - Himalayas, Zouave - Algeria, Tuareg - Sahara Desert

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$2.8M Baseball Card Honus Wagner T206 and Rare Vintage Sports Card Set Boxing Golf Billiards Football Major Drapking Cigarette Cards

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This is a very rare sports card set, so rare that it’s taken me seven years to get it. This set forms a card game, Sporting Snap. If you don’t know how to play, I was lucky enough to get the original instruction leaflet which, according to the backs of the cards, was “obtainable from all tobacconists”. It is now very scarce in its own right.

The most sought after cards in this set are the baseball cards. You won’t find any Honus Wagner cards amongst these ones but they are still very difficult to get hold of in this great condition.As many of you know, a Honus Wagner T206 baseball card was the first card to fetch more than $1M at auction in the year 2000 and would more than double this in 2007, when it reached $2.8M. As well as featuring several baseball cards, this card set also covers many other sports, such as association football, rugby, tennis, boxing, golf, water-polo, billiards and racing etc.

Major Drapkin, The Game of Sporting Snap, 1928 (40 cards)

Includes:Soccer (Association Football), Rugger (Rugby), Cricket, Tennis, Boxing, Baseball, Golf, Water-Polo, Billiards, Horse Racing

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WW1 Cavalry Regimental Uniforms Horses Lancers Artillery Cossacks Russian Hussars John Player & Son Cigarette Cards

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The huge revolution in firepower was not matched by similar advances in mobility. That’s why horses were still widely used in WW1. The first standard issue military tanks did not join the war effort till quite late, and even those were very experimental and caused almost as much damage to the exhaust fume poisoned operatives as they did to the enemy.

John Player and Sons issued a number of beautifully illustrated military card sets leading up to and towards the beginning of WW1. This particular set is devoted to cavalry regiments and, judging by the unusual large size of the cards, would have been issued in the extra big packets. The bumper packets were not as popular as the regular packets, explaining why these cards are quite scarce. As with the early movie studios, the card issuers were reluctant to reveal the names of their artists. They feared that their staff would ask for more money if they became celebrities in their own right. However, attitudes changed as the pressures of the free market took effect.

John Player and Son, Regimental Uniforms, 1914 (10 extra large cards)

Includes:Belgian Army - 4th Regiment of Lancers, French Army - Artillery, Belgian Army - 2nd Chasseurs a Cheval, French Army - Spahi, French Army - Chasseurs a Cheval, Indian Army - 26th King George's Own Light Cavalry - Late 1st Madras Lancers, 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers Watson's Horse - Late 13th Duke of Connaught's Bengal Lancers, Indian Army - Imperial Cadet Corps, Russian Army - Officer of Hussars, Russian Army - Trumpeter - Cossack of the Guard

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Early 1900s Ghost Train Roller Coaster Ride Folkestone Kent Railway Amusement Park Postcard

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Although Fokestone's original Victorian roller coaster ride has long since gone, it's image has been immortalised on this beautiful 1900's postcard.

Switchback Railway (early 1900's roller coaster ride) Folkestone, Kent

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18th Century Boxing Token & Rare Tobacco Cards John L. Sullivan Jack Johnson Boxer Joe Louis Cigarette Cards

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I have a fantastic piece of boxing history; an 18th century boxing medal/token, depicting a pioneering boxer and I’ll be discussing it later in this blog.

Who was the first boxing super star? I bet a whole host of great boxers from the past sweep through your mind: Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Jack Johnson or John Lawrence Sullivan. Actually, this great sport dates back thousands of years, with the earliest depictions of fist fighting appearing on relief carvings from the Bronze Age. The first English bare knuckle boxing champion was James Figg in 1719 and this was about the same time the word “boxing” was initially used. Early fights had no written rules and there were no weight divisions, round limits or referees. The first boxing rules, called the Broughton's rules, were introduced by heavyweight champion Jack Broughton in 1743 to protect fighters in the ring.

One of greatest boxing matches in living history, between Thomas Johnson and Isaac Perrins , was held in 1789. It was such a momentous event that two medals, one representing each participant, were struck to commemorate it. I own the medal featuring the winner of the fight, Thomas Johnson. The obverse of the medal shows the bust of Johnson. The reverse is inscribed with the words “Science and Intrepidity”, because Johnson was well known for using his brain to outwit bigger and more muscular opponents, which was unusual for that time. He was thought to have earned more money during his reign as champion than any other fighter until John L. Sullivan almost a century later. Jack Anderson, a modern historian of the sport, has summarised the early boxing writers as agreeing the period of Johnson's reign as champion "rescued the declining sport and heralded the beginning of a golden age".


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Thomas Johnson (Iohnson) Boxing Medal / Token (Inscribed: "Bella! Horrida Bella!" and "Science and Intrepidity"), 1789

Tobacco card featuring John L. Sullivan, Allen & Ginters, circa 1887

Famous Boxers (featuring Jack Johnson), Cohen Weenen & Co., 1912

A Gallery of 1935 (featuring Joe Louis), Stephen Mitchell & Son

Boxing Personalities (featuring Gene Tunney), WA & AC Churchman, 1938

Sporting Champions (featuring Jack Dempsey), 1922

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Rare 1900′s Harry Houdini $2000.00 Trading Card Memorabilia 1924 Frys Magic Tricks and Puzzles Cigarette Cards

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Trading cards and cigarette cards were issued on a huge array of subjects, including that which has fascinated mankind since the beginning of time, magic. As with many card collecting subjects, there are certain cards that fetch colossal amounts of money. With baseball cards it’s Honus Wagner, one of which was the first card to exceed $1M, on eBay. With magic cards, the most sought after celebrity is Harry Houdini. His magic is still working after all these years as his cards conjure up nearly $2000.00 for a 1902 Ogden’s Guinea Gold card depicting him and almost £100.00 for a rare 1922 Boy’s Cinema (periodical) Famous Heroes card featuring this legendary man.

Although I, unfortunately, don’t have any Houdini cards in my collection, I do have a very rare Fry’s Tricks and Puzzles (Black Back), issued in 1924, just two years before Houdini’s death. This set includes fifty tricks/puzzles: disappearing coins, playing cards that produce smoke rings, dancing paper fairies, impossible handcuffs, bringing paper snakes to life and many more. One card also includes the politically incorrect act of creating silhouettes of different ethnic groups out of a candle and screwed up newspaper, not recommended these days. The backs of the cards in this set, as well as describing each trick and puzzle in detail , also advertise Fry’s “Cube Block Chocolate”, priced at just six pence each.


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Ogden's Guinea Gold , New Series 1 B (featuring Harry Houdini), 1902

Boys Cinema , Famous Heroes (featuring Harry Houdini), 1922

JS Fry & Sons Ltd , Tricks and Puzzles (Black Back), 1924 (50 cards)

Includes:Sixpence and Card Trick, Mr, Roly Poly, The Surplus Spill, The Fairy Dancers, Chalk Line Puzzle, Handcuff Puzzle, The Mesmerised Match Box, The Miraculous Apple, The Travelling Cubes of Sugar, Can you Count?, The Wandering Ace, The Q Trick, To make Smoke Rings, The Rising Flood, Pricking the Garter, The Vanishing Coin, A Square Puzzle, The Floating Needle, Cut String Restored or Vanishing Knot, The Magic Match, Gravity Dafied, Bottle Coin and Match Trick, The Disappearing Shilling, Philosphy Cheated, The Magic Bond, The Travelling-Coin, The Mesmerised Walking Stick, The Vanishing Egg, The Penetrating Smoke, The Indestructible Star, The Penetrable Matches, The Erratic Egg, The Magic Ring, The Restored Handkerchief, The Torn Paper Puzzle, The Cut Finger Joke, The Incombustible Handkerchief, The Revolving Serpent, Hot is it done?, The Watch Trick, The Ridiculous Rings, The Magical Adhesion,The Cigarette Joke, The Wonderful Designer, The Tantalising Cork, The Magic Penny, The Intoxicated Wine Glass, One Two Three Gone, The Restored Slip of Paper

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World’s 1st Car Ever and 1902 Motor Cars and Racing On Ogden’s Guinea Gold Cigarette Cards

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Transport has certainly come a long way over the last one-hundred odd years, from the horse drawn cart though to the indispensible modern-day motor car. OK, we’re not riding around in our own personal space ships, but motor cars have dramatically transformed our lives.

Deciding who invented the car, like with most inventions, depends on how you define it. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot is believed to have built the first self-propelled mechanical vehicle, the Cugnot Steam Trolley in 1769. It is generally acknowledged that the first really practical automobiles with petrol/gasoline-powered internal combustion engines were completed almost simultaneously by several German inventors working independently: Karl Benz built his first car in 1885 in Mannheim.

Early 20th century ephemera, especially cigarette cards and trading cards, provide us with a window to some of the first ever motor cars. I have a collection of 1902 motor car cigarette cards, issued by Ogden’s under their Guinea Gold brand. In those days, it was not so obvious what would become the dominant standard, whether it was the electric, steam or petroleum car. The makers of petrol engine cars got the upper hand by investing heavily in mass-production techniques.

Ogden (Guinea Gold), New Series 1 B, 1902 (Just Motor Car Related Cards)

Includes:"The Smallest Motor Car", Ricker on his Electric Car, The King In Hist Motor (King Edward VII), HM King Edward VII's DAimler Motor Carriage, The King's Motor Car, Misses Sevening and Edwardine, , Model of the first Motor ever made in America, Violet Vanbrugh, Mr. Weigel on his Motor Car, Motor Bus - Kilburn Marble Arch, Car of Sir Sydney Waterlow, Rougier Winner of a Race For Large Motors, Colomb on a Mors Car, Albert on a Darracq Car, Aubert on a Co Herean Car, De Montant on a Pengeot Car, Emery on Darracq Car, Laurent on a Brasier Car, Gordon Bennett Cup, A Mammoth Motor Car - 150HP, Pauline Chase & Nina Sevening & Adrienne Augarde & Carrie Moore, The Latest in Light Motor Cars, Louie Freear, Evie Greene and M May, Dust Trails Using Westrumite, Starley Car, His Majesty King Edward's Daimler Motor Carriage, The Bertrand Motor Carraige, M. Charroy's Panhard-Levassor, The Gordon-Brillie Landau, The Four Bridesmaids In Chinese Honeymoon, Mr JW Stocks on His Napier Car, L Movers on his Racing Car, M. Fournier's Mors - The Winner of the Race From Paris to Berlin 1901

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World's 1st Motorcycle Ever Made & 1902 Motor Cycle Ogden's Cigarette Cards

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As with many inventions, deciding who invented the first motorcycle depends on how you define it. If a two-wheeled vehicle with steam propulsion is considered a motorcycle, then the first was the French Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede of 1868. Many authorities who exclude steam powered, electric or diesel two-wheelers from the definition of a motorcycle, credit the Daimler Reitwagen as the world's first motorcycle. This petroleum fuelled bike was developed by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Germany, 1885.

Only a handful of cigarette card and trading card sets were issued just on motorcycles and most of those are post 1920. In order to find the earliest motorbike cards you really have to do some searching, scanning through thousands and thousands of cards. Luckily, I’ve done some of the work for. I’ve tracked down seven cards from the thousands of photographic general interest cards issued by Ogden under their Guinea Gold and Tab brands at the beginning of the 1900s. They hardly ever turn up and when they do they go for way above the catalogue value because it’s such a popular subject. 6 of the cards are all from Ogden’s Guinea Gold New Series 1 B. Below is a list of the card titles:

Guinea Gold New Series 1 B, 1902
B281 “Carl Muller Competitor in the International Cup”
B284 “Toman Winner of International Cup For Motor Bicycles”
B287 “Adolf Marz Competitor In The International Cup”
B271 “Lonfronchi On A Pengeot Motor Bicycle. World’s Record, 1 Mile in 57 4-5 Seconds”
B394 “Detachable Motor”
B395 “T. Silver on the Quadrant Motor” (Tom Silver on a Quadrant motorcycle)
I did also find a tricycle card from Ogden’s Tab General Interest D Series, 1902:
Card #90 “Kenneth Skinner rounding a curve on his prize-winning tricycle, in great American Races”

Ogden's Guinea Gold, New Series 1 B, 1902 (A selection of motorcycle cards)

Includes:Carl Muller, Competitor in the International Cup; Toman, Winner of International Cup for Motor Bicycles; Adolf Marz, Competitor in the International Cup; Lonfronchi on a Pengeot Motor Bicycle, World's Record; Detachable Motor, Tom Silver on his Quadrant Motorcycle, Kenneth Skinner on his Tricycle

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WW2 USA Weapons Browning 50 Cal Machine Gun sherman M4A4 Tank Bazooka Trading Cards

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The Battle Picture Weekly presented several series of WW2 weapons trading cards with their popular comic in the mid 1970s, each one focusing on a different country. This particular set in this blog features sixteen weapons that the USA used to slay the German army during World War II.

Mobility was a big problem in WW1 but the perfection of the military tank put an end to that in WW2. Germany took full advantage of these war machines when they used them to rapidly invade France, applying a strategy known as the blitzkrieg. This set features the Sherman Tank, the USA’s answer to the German Panzer tanks. This set also includes the famous Browning .50 caliber machine gun, which was so successful that it is still used today. Card #6 shows the Bazooka Anti-Tank Rocket, which inspired America’s allies and enemies to replicate it. Military mines were problematic during WW2 but some ingenious contraptions, such as that illustrated on card #10, were used to clear the way for advancing military vehicles and infantry. One weapon that wasn’t so successful in WW2 was the Tommy-Gun. Although made famous by the 1930’s gangsters of America, WW2 military personnel complained that they were too noisy and jammed at crucial moments. The last card in this series features the interestingly shaped P-38 Lightning Fighter. This aircraft instilled fear in the Germans, who named it the “Two-tailed Devil”.

Battle Picture Weekly, Battle Weapons of World War II, circa 1975 (16 cards)

Includes:USS Langley Escort Carrier, Sherman M4A4 Tank, Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, Boeing B-17 Bomber, 105 mm Priest SP Gun, Bazooka Anti-Tank Rocket, M10 Tank Destroyer, C-47 Dakota Transport, White Half Track with 75 mm Howitzer, Sherman Flail Tank for mines, Grumman Wildcat Navy Fighter, 37 mm Anti-Tank Gun, Landing Craft-Rocket, Hamilcar Glider, Thompson Sub Machine-Gun (Tommy Gun), P-38 Lightning Fighter Aircraft

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Early 1910′s Movie Stars Mary Pickford Mabel Normand Charlie Chaplin Alma Taylor Trading Cards

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The first ever cigarette card set devoted purely to movie stars, that I’ve found so far, is Cinematograph Actors, issued by Major Drapkin in 1913. I’ll be reviewing my collection of cards from that particular set in a future review.

This set, issued about 1916 by The Girl’s Friend periodical, doesn’t have a series title printed on the backs. Fortunately, it has been retrospectively named as Actresses in trading card literature.

As well as featuring actresses known more for their stage appearances, such as Calarice Maye, Daisy Dormer and Gladys Cooper, the very general title given to this set disguises the fact that it features several pioneering movie stars. One card is devoted to one of the first international movie stars, Mary Pickford. The description on the back of the Pickford card reveals that her latest film is “The Eternal Grind”, which, according to Wikipedia, came out in 1916, revealing the age of this card set. Mabel Normand also appears in this set and was a successful silent film comedienne and one of the film industry’s first female screenwriters, producers and directors. She also played an important part in launching Charlie Chaplin’s career.

This set also features Alma Taylor, who was a major British film star from the 1910s and 1920s and appeared in over 150 films. Despite her prolific film career there seems to be less about her online than her American contemporaries. Prior to WW1, Europe played a significant part in the movie industry but was over taken by the US during the war years.

Whilst the Europeans were consumed with killing each other in a mindless war, the US conquered the movie industry. As Winston Churchill once said, History is written by the victors. The USA wouldn’t just write history, it would broadcast it to the world and still does through the ultimate broadcasting medium, the internet.

Perhaps the European Union is a good thing after all. It’s better than all the thousands of European wars we had before it. I guess the choice is either greed and war or peace and compromise.

The card illustrations in this set were printed on material, often termed Silks in cigarette card circles, and backed with paper. The text on the backs of these material cards encourages the collectors to incorporate them into tea cosies, cushions, chair backs and other needlework projects. Well, these were the days before television, although that was soon about to change.

The Girls Friend (Periodical) , Actresses, circa 1916 (6 cards)

Includes:Clarice Mayne, Daisy Dormer, Mabel Normand, Gladys Cooper, Mary Pickford, Alma Taylor

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1920′s Motorcycles Brough Superior SS100 Exlcelsior Scott Super Squirrel Triumph Norton Cigarette Cards

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This set of 1920’s motorcycle cards was issued when Britain was still a great industrial nation. It includes 1920's bikes from instantly recognisable British motorcycle manufacturers such as Triumph, Norton, Royal Enfield, BSA and AJS.

Many of the early motorcycle manufacturers started out in bicycle production before progressing to motorised versions. Although not all the early firms made it to the 1920s, this set does feature a bike produced by Excelsior, which was the first British company to manufacture motorcycles in 1896. Other early manufacturers include Humber Motorcycles, Matchless and Coventry-Eagle.

Raleigh is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world and is still going today. Even they spent a short period of time expanding into motorcycles, from the 1920s-1930s, but obviously they weren’t as successful at it as they were with their bicycle line. This set also includes motorcycles manufactured by companies normally associated with cars, such as Rover and Sunbeam.

Britain built up a worldwide reputation for quality workmanship. Brough Superior motorcycles were dubbed the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" by H. D. Teague of The Motor Cycle newspaper. Brough Superior boasted prestigious patrons such as T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") and George Bernard Shaw

Velocette, a small family owned business, could not compete against BSA on quantity but were renowned for the quality of their products.

W.D. & H.O. Wills, Motor Cycles, 1926 (50 cards)

Includes:New Gerrard 348 cc Blackburne engine, AJS G. 8, P & M Panther, Ner-A-Car Model C, Chater-Lea 348cc super sports model, Quadrant, Montgomer 986cc, sports model AJR 344cc twin port JAP engine, Elcelsior, 496cc James, 348cc Bradbury, 248cc Raleigh, SS100 Brough Superior, 493cc De Luxe BSA, 498cc Scott Super Squirrel, REX-ACME sports model, Triumph Model P, Connaught Model G, 680 model twin-cylinder Zenith, Velocette, New Imperial Super-Sports overhead valve model 246cc, 342 Sun Villiers lightweight side car outfit, 349cc 1926 model Humber, 497cc Ariel, HRD 490cc JAP , Coventry Eagle Flying 8, 498cc Matchless, Douglas, Grindlay 344cc overhead valve JAP engine, O.K., 300cc J.A.P. engine Carfield, 348cc New Hudson Super Sports Model, Calthrope 348cc, Rover 345cc single cylinder, Royal Enfield Sports Model 346cc, 700cc N.U.T., 247cc Cedos, Cotton, 490cc Overhead valve O.E.C., 499cc Rudge, Diamond 172cc, 499cc long-stroke Sunbeam, 588cc Norton, Radco, Francis-Barnett 172cc two-stroke, 247cc Levis, Dunlet, Omega 345cc JAP engine, Ivy 499cc , Coventry Victor 499cc

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Adolf Hitler Bought Trading Cards of WW2 Battleship HMS Nelson HMS Ark Royal HMS Warspite

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I’ve just been rummaging through some intriguing collectables, some of which will be appearing in future blogs. But in this blog I couldn’t resist showing you this set of WW2 battleship and submarine cards. It looks like an average set at first glance but it hides a tantalising secret. It’s an error set. No, you won’t find any rare printing errors like those found on stamps. In fact, this is a very accurate set and that’s what the problem is.

Hitler thought it was so detailed that he secretly bought up huge quantities of it, pushing its price way above the normal market value and raising the alarm amongst British card dealers. Of course Hitler hadn’t bought them because he’d taken up card collecting, he intended to give these handy and compact cards to his u-boat personnel so that they could identify and destroy British battleships featured. As well as the pictures showing a true likeness, the backs reveal important information such as the weight, speed and even the number of guns on the ships. This would be very useful for those launching the weapons of mass destruction.

This was a huge own goal and a classic example of a cigarette card set slipping through the censorship net. As well as putting the lives of British sailors at risk it also endangered those of our allies, since it features naval craft from the USA, France and Russia.

This set won’t break any records at auction, but it is a great example of how accurate and historically important these miniature cards can be. Maybe your great grandfather or uncle served on one of the battleships or submarines that appear in this set. Please feel free to comment and share your war bedtime stories. I’ve included a list the naval craft that appear in this set.

John Player & Sons, Modern Naval Craft, 1939 (50 cards)

Includes:HMS Nelson,HMS Warspite,HMS Revenge,HMS Hood,HMS Repulse,HMS Exeter,HMS Norfolk,HMS Southampton,HMS Curlew,HMS Adventure,HMS Greenville,HMS Afridi,HMS Severn,HMS Narwhal,HMS Sunfish,HMS Ark Royal,HM Torpedo Boat 102,Dunkerque,Algerie,La Galissonniere, Mogador,Surcouf,Bearn,Admiral Graf Spee,Nurnberg,Georg Thiele,U16,Conte DI Cavour,Bolzano,Giuseppe Garibadi,Libeccio,Giuseppe Finzi,Nagato,ISE,Atago,Kumano,Samidare,I21,Akagi,California,Colorado,Quincy,Broo­klyn,Gridley,Perch,Oahu,Enterprise,Saratoga, Leningrad,Revolutioner

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1970′s Rock Bands Creedence Clearwater Revival Marc Bolan T. Rex Led Zeppelin Mungo Jerry Slade

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Mister Softee, Pop Discs (Pop Stars and Rock Bands), 1972

This set of cards was issued when Glam rock was popular in Britain. It features the man who started it all, Marc Bolan of T Rex. He showed the way for acts such as Slade and Sweet, both of whom are featured in this set. This set includes other great bands, such as Led Zeppelin, Mungo Jerry (famous for the timeless song In “ The Summer Time “ ), Creedence Clearwater Revival, Chicago and many other music acts that would shape the scene in the 1970s and for years to come:

Includes: Marc Bolan (T. Rex), Slade (Noddy Holder, Dave Hill, Jimmy Lee and Don Powell), Rod Stewart (The Faces), Cilla Black, Cat Stevens, Chicago , Peter Noone (Herman of the Hermits), The New Seekers, New World, Alvin Lee, Mungo Jerry (Ray Dorset, Paul King, JOhn Godfrey and Colin Earl), Tremeloes, Tony Blackburn, Creedence Clearwater Revival (Stu Cook, Doug Clifford and John Fogerty), Gilbert O'Sullivan, Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page (Yardbirds), John Paul Jones, John Bonham and Robert Plant), Elton John Cliff Richard, Sweet (Brian Connelly, Mike Tucker, Steve Priest and Andy Scott), Blue Mink (Madeline Bell, Roger Cook, Alan Clark, Barry Morgan, Roger Coulam and Herbie Flowers), Dean Ford (Scottish Band Marmalade), Richard Barnes, Neil Diamond, Maurice Gibbs (The Bee Gees)

If you would like to find out more about the 1970's rock bands and pop star cards featured in this blog please click here. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you found it interesting!

1970's Bands & Pop Stars Led Zeppelin Jethro Tull Marmalade Fleetwood Mac Trading Cards

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Who is your favourite 1970’s band?

Mister Softee’s Lord Neilson Star Discs Trading Card Set (24 Cards)

Includes: Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Marmalade, Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, Donovan, Dave Clark 5, Glen Campbell, Cilla Black, Cliff Richard, Peter Sarstedt, Dusty Springfield, Herman's Hermits, The Tremeloes, Herb Alpert, The Hollies, Mary Hopkin, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Bobbie Gentry

Here’s another great set issued by Mister Softee, who ran a successful fleet of ice cream vans. This set heralds in a new decade, the 1970s. Some of the artists featured in this set would fail to maintain their position at the top of the charts whilst bands like Led Zeppelin would completely transform the shape of music forever, like The Beatles did in the previous decade. The cards in this set are circular and look like the tops of ice cream tubs. The photos and descriptions were compiled by Music Now.

Card #1, Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert was as talented behind the scenes as he was in front of the microphone. He founded the hugely successful A&M Records recording label, which boasts a huge catalogue of mega stars.

Card #2 Marmalade

Marmalade were the first Scottish band to top the UK charts with a cover of the Beatles’ "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da".

Card #3, Mick Jagger

No introduction is necessary for the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, the ultimate die hard rock star. Allmusic described Jagger as "one of the most popular and influential front men in the history of rock & roll".

Card #4, Andy Fairweather-Low

Andy Fairweather-Low was the vocalist and leader of the 1960’s band Amen Corner, which had a number one hit with the song “If Paradise is Half As Nice”. He has continued to tour up until recently with the likes of Eric Clapton.

Card #5, Robin Gibb

This set of cards was issued when Robin Gibb had split from the Bee Gees to pursue a solo career. He didn’t succeed at this and soon rejoined the Bee Gees, who would go on to have phenomenal success in the disco-era of the late 1970s.

Card #6, Donovan

Emerging from British folk scene, Donovan developed a unique style of music, incorporating multiple genres.

Card #7, Dave Clark

Dave Clark was the leader of the group The Dave Clark Five, who scored numerous hits in the 1960s and even challenged the Beatles early on in the British Invasion era. Promoted as a “cleaner” image than the Beatles, the Dave Clark Five were among the first British bands to tour the USA.

Card #8, Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell is a Grammy nominated American country pop singer and guitarist, best known for his 1960’s and 1970’s hits.

Card #9, Cilla Black

After achieving worldwide fame as a 1960’s singer, she went on to become the best paid female presenter in British television history.

Card #10, Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard has sold 260 million records worldwide and is the only singer to have had a number one single in the UK in six consecutive decades.

Card #11, Peter Sarstedt

Peter Sarstedt is a singer-songwriter who is best known for his #1 UK hit “Where Do You Go To My Lovely?”

Card #12, Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield is a true 1960’s icon, considered by many to be one of the best female artists of all time.

Card # 13, Herman

One card features Peter Noone, best known as Herman of the successful 1960’s group Herman’s Hermits. The group’s record producer, Mickie Most, was considered to be very controlling, which helped propel the group in the short term but stifled song writing creativity later on.

Card #14, Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin when The Yardbirds disbanded. Led Zeppelin are widely considered to be one of the most successful, innovative and influential bands in the history of rock music.

Card #15, The Tremeloes

Famously, Decca chose the Tremoloes over The Beatles in an audition in 1962. This talented group secured many hits in the 1960s, and are still active today.

Card #16, Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull are one of the best selling groups of all time. They have successful incorporated numerous genres in a career spanning nearly half a century.

Card #17, Fleetwood Mac

This card shows the Fleetwood Mac group during the British Blues boom, when it was still led by the creative guitarist Peter Green, who is ranked as the 38th greatest guitarist of all time.

Card #18, Elvis Presley

No pop music series would be complete without mentioning the man who did the most to popularize Rock and Roll; the late, great Elvis Presley.

Card #19, The Hollies

This card shows the great Manchester group The Hollies, known for their distinctive vocal harmony style. They became one of the leading groups of the 1960s and 1970s and are one of the few that continue to perform even today.

Card #20, Mary Hopkin

This set features the British folk singer Mary Hopkin, sometimes known as Mary Visconti, who is best known for her number one single “Those Were The Days”.

Card #21, Lou Christie

Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, known professionally as Lou Christie, is an American singer-songwriter best known for songs such as Lightnin' Strikes and his incredible 3 octave vocal range.

Card #22, Engelbert Humperdinck

Arnold George Dorsey went from a struggling pub singer into a global superstar when he changed his name to the more memorable Engelbert Humperdinck. He scored a big hit with the song Release Me.

Card #23, Tom Jones

Tom Jones’ powerful voice has helped him sell over 100 million records worldwide since 1965

Card #24, Bobbie Gentry

Bobbie Gentry was an American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to write and produce her own material.

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Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you found it interesting!