COMICS AND CARDS

I've said this before and I will say it again; I love my BLOG! Not because I am trying to compete with those established Bloggers, who get thousands of viewers and probably some financial reward; NO it's research and typing fills a delightful hour in a late afternoon and yes, I get genuinely fed up if I miss a day, which sometimes happens. If there are any publishers out there, there's a book amongst my several years of reporting unusual and quirky events in our great game. Yesterday it was Roy Race, today to show continuity, Comics and Cards.

The comic football reads and serials were first established in the 19th Century, football being a popular subject as the game grew. Comics such as Fun and Funny Folk published cartoons highlighting the humorous side of the game and young Victorians were gripped by serials in magazines such as Big Budget and Boys of England Journal.
Maxwell Scott was the top man writing excitements such as Stolen: The English Cup! The Missing Forward and The Goalkeeper's Revenge. Comics promoted football tournaments for readers such as The Big Budget Football Cup which offered a silver cup and handsome medals.

I have an "almost" interesting collection of cigarette cards, some of football stars and clubs and associated memorabilia. Football cards were first issued in 1887 by Bradford toy shop owner, John Baines. The self-styled "Football Card King" worked from a dolls' hospital on Bradford North Parade, distributing cards from a brightly coloured, horse drawn, carriage with a monkey riding on the horse's back. Small shield shaped cards featured colours of teams kits and sometimes drawings of popular players.

Baines hid "gold" medal cards in the packs that could be exchanged for prizes. These could be traded through a card flicking game known as "skaging". The winner took all.
Baines' cards became very popular, but inevitably card competitors increased in number including a favourite, WN Sharpe, also from Bradford, who produced a range of "Play Up" cards featuring different teams and players.

Tobacco companies then began to produce cards to help sell their fags! The first set was produced in 1896 by Manchester firm Marcus and Co. Needless to say some of these collections are very sought after.
Churchman Cigarettes produced this multi-featured card in 1914 with an individual portrait....


Archie Mitchell played for Queen's Park Rangers.
There's more.....
https://spartacus-educational.com/Fcigarette.htm

My collection includes