1920's Zoo Animals Zebra Tiger Polar Bear Chimpanzee On Trading Cards by Jacob Biscuits, 1924

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The zoo is a very controversial place. Some insist that they are essential in the preservation of endangered wildlife whilst others maintain that they are cruel and contribute little to conservation. The one fact that is indisputable is that mankind’s insatiable thirst for natural resources means that the only place left for most wildlife to take refuge will probably be the zoo. This reminds me of the Native North American predicament in the late 19th century. Ironically, it’s probably only a matter of time before humans too will be joining their zoo captives, imprisoned by their superior robotic successors.

As well as providing a biscuit snack for millions of people Jacobs issued a number of trading card sets to satisfy the public’s hunger for knowledge, and in this case zoo animals. The featured card set includes the unmistakable zebra. I’ve seen it used in a similar manner to horses but, as stated on the back of card no. 6, “they are not easy to tame”. This might explain why they didn’t catch on as well as horses. This set also includes the brown and polar bear, which are not as tame as the teddy bear. The tiger, pictured on card no. 13, is classified as endangered but they have increased dramatically in numbers in captivity, which could be seen as one of the zoo’s success stories, depending on how you look at it. Two of mankind’s closest relatives, the chimpanzee and orang-utan, are also included in this breath taking zoo set.

Jacob and Co's Biscuits, Zoo Series, Green Back, 1924 (25 cards)

Includes:Llama,Lion,Siberian Bears,Kangaroo,Giraffe,Zebra,Orang-Utan,Common Seal,Macaque,Flamingo,Sambur,Hippopotamus,Tiger,Pelican,Polar Bear,Kagu,Cheetah,Crocodile,Sea Lion,Chimpanzee,Penguin,Wart Hog,porcupine,Malayan Tapir,harnessed Antelope

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1920′s Silent Movie Legends Marion Davies Mabel Normand Corinne Griffith on Cigarette Cards by Sandorides, 1924

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Sandorides’ Big Gun Cigarettes brand issued this card set of pretty cinema stars. This isn’t a surprise since it was still mainly men that smoked when this set was issued, 1925. It was not until 1928 that Edward Bernays made smoking more socially acceptable among women by ingeniously transforming the humble cigarette into a symbol of female liberation through a memorable publicity stunt, the “Torches of Freedom” campaign.

This card set is unusual in that the cards are very large, almost postcard size, and the illustrations include colour, albeit sparingly in earthy tones. Most silent movie era cards are either photographic or sepia, matching the presentation of the films themselves. This set includes an interesting mix of silent film stars, some of whom are still remembered by film buffs today, whilst many, although extremely popular in their time, have vanished into obscurity.

This card set includes silent movie icons such as Marion Davies, Pauline Frederick, who was idolized by the great Joan Crawford, and Corinne Griffith, considered by many to be the most beautiful actress of the silent screen. Louise Lovely travelled all the way from Australia to start her movie career in the USA and, at her peak, challenged even Mary Pickford’s status, “America’s Sweetheart”, despite not being American. Mabel Normand appears on card no. 3 and her movie genre was mainly comedy despite her personal life being shrouded by murder and violence. Edna Purviance, pictured on card no. 18, had the good fortune to appear in 30 films with Charlie Chaplin, although her romantic involvement with him might have influenced this. Wanda Hawley was the leading lady in a number of silent films, including an early adaptation of “The Wizard of OZ”, but, unlike the conclusion of many movies, her career didn’t have a happy ending and it is reported that she was working as call girl in the 1930s. This set also features many of the very early pioneers of the movie industry: Ethel Clayton, whose screen debut was as early as 1909, Dorothy Phillips, who starred in 150 films from 1911-1962, and Clara Kimball Young, who worked for the same film studio as the first every movie star, Florence Lawrence (born Florence Annie Bridgwood).

W. Sandorides & Co. LTD, Cinema Stars ( Big Gun ) (Extra Large), 1924 (25 cards)

Includes:Mabel Normand, Alice Terry,Helen Chadwick,Mae Murray,Madge Kennedy,Priscilla Dean,Marion Davies,Peggy Hyland,Jane Novak,Betty Blythe,Eileen Sedgwick,Norma Talmadge,Ruth Roland,Naomi Childers,Pauline Frederick,Wanda Hawley,Ethel Clayton,Louise Lovely,Edna, Purviance,Corinne Griffith,Dorothy Dalton,Dorothy Phillips,Viola Dana,Constance Talmadge,Clara Kimball Young,

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