Brooke Bond Picture Cards

Prior to World War II, cigarette cards (small rectangles of coloured pasteboard inserted in cigarette packets) had been collected in Britain in their millions. The tobacco manufacturers did not reintroduce the cards after the war.

Tea manufacturer Brooke Bond spotted an opportunity and introduced their range of ‘picture cards’.

The first series of picture cards – produced in 1954 and given away free in packets of PG Tips tea bags and loose-leaf tea –  was a collection of illustrated British birds.

Further series followed, encompassing subjects such as wildflowers, astronomy, fish, butterflies and African and Asian wildlife. Later runs included transport, the motor car, and British costume throughout history.

The cards were beautifully illustrated with factual descriptions or potted biographies printed on the back, and the Brooke Bond picture cards quickly became collectors’ favourites and were also widely used as educational aids. Albums were also sold for each card collection.

By 1968, the annual distribution of the cards had topped 720 million.

In 1969, a set of 50 cards depicting Famous People between 1896-1969 was issued, celebrating British men and women who had achieved their place in history. These eminent Britons were chosen by historian Professor Asa Briggs, who was then Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sussex.

Production of the cards continued until 1999. Localised cards were also printed and distributed in Canada, South Africa, Rhodesia, and the USA.

The original British card series

1954 – British Birds
1955 – Wild Flowers Series 1
1956 – Out Into Space
1957 – Bird Portraits
1958 – British Wild Life
1959 – Wild Flowers Series 2
1960 – Freshwater Fish
1961 – African Wild Life
1961 – Tropical Birds
1962 – Asian Wild Life
1963 – British Butterflies
1963 – Wildlife In Danger
1964 – Wild Flowers Series 3
1964 – Butterflies of the World
1965 – Wild Birds in Britain
1966 – Transport Through the Ages
1966 – Trees in Britain
1967 – Flags & Emblems of the World
1968 – British Costume
1968 – History of the Motor Car
1969 – Famous People 1869 – 1969
1970 – The Saga of Ships
1971 – The Race into Space
1971 – Prehistoric Animals
1972 – History of Aviation
1973 – Adventurers and Explorers
1974 – The Sea – Our Other World
1975 – Inventors and Inventions
1975 – Wonders of Wildlife
1976 – Play Better Soccer
1977 – Police File
1978 – Vanishing Wildlife
1979 – Olympic Greats
1980 – Woodland Wildlife
1981 – Small Wonders
1983 – Queen Elizabeth I – Elizabeth II
1984 – Features of the World
1985 – Incredible Creatures
1986 – Chimp Stickers
1987 – Unexplained Mysteries of the World
1988 – The Language of Tea
1988 – Discovering Our Coast
1989 – The Magical World of Disney
1990 – A Journey Downstream
1991 – Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles – Dimension Xescapade
1992 – Olympic Challenge 1992
1992 – Natural Neighbours
1993 – The Dinosaur Trail
1994 – Creatures of Legend
1994 – Going Wild
1995 – The Secret Diary of Kevin Tipps
1996 – 40 years of Chimps television advertising
1997 – Pyramid Power
1998 – The Wonderful World of Kevin Tipps
1998 – International Soccer Stars
1999 – Oracle Cards