Category: Ephemera

Collecting vintage bubble gum cards isn’t just about baseball heroes anymore. Some of the most sought-after sets today come from the late 1960s and early 1970s, covering cult TV shows and even horror icons.

Planet of the Apes – APJAC (1974 TV Series)

These cards brought the world of intelligent apes and stranded astronauts into the hands of young collectors. While often mistakenly linked to the 1967 film, this set was based on the short-lived but much-loved 1974 TV series.

Kung Fu – A&BC (Early 1970s, Warner Bros.)

Inspired by the hit TV show starring David Carradine, this UK-issued set featured iconic scenes from the martial arts western. A&BC was well known for its high-quality trading cards, making this a sought-after collector’s item.

Shocking Laffs – Topps (1976) Featuring Christopher Lee

Blending horror and comedy, this series showcased classic monsters with tongue-in-cheek captions. Christopher Lee, famous for his portrayal of Dracula, was a standout in this set. Interestingly, he was known to visit this very market when he was in the London Bridge area.

What Are They Worth?

A complete set of these cards can fetch around £100, but a single signed Christopher Lee card could be worth significantly more—sometimes exceeding the value of the entire set.

For those who love vintage TV, horror, and nostalgia, these cards prove that baseball isn’t the only game in town when it comes to valuable collectibles.

Yee-haw! Step back into the 1950s and 1960s—an era when cowboy films and comic books ruled the day, and the sheriff was always the good guy. Back then, metal “sheriff” birthday badges became all the rage, often arriving in charming little boxes or mounted on cards. Interestingly, these early badges were commonly manufactured in post-war Japan or Germany, thanks to tight Allied controls and export limits. Even though they were classified as toys, many of them were made of sturdy brass or metal alloys—giving them an impressive heft and nostalgic appeal.

These badges represent a post-war childhood, when audiences knew the villain by his black hat, and the lucky birthday boy or girl got to play the role of the sheriff. Among these cherished keepsakes is the elusive “Sheriff Dan” badge, made famous by a Beano comic giveaway. (Fun fact: Desperate Dan—another beloved character—made his first appearance back in December of 1937!) And in the last image, you’ll spy some U.S. “special agent” and “city police” badges—just as shiny and intriguing.

Nearly everyone has an old tin or two tucked away at home. With Christmas approaching, these tins remind us of a time when chocolates, biscuits, and other goodies came in sturdy, decorative containers that lasted far beyond their original purpose. Nowadays, eco-friendly plastic tubs have largely taken over, but those vintage tins have found a second life as perfect storage for buttons, mementos, and all sorts of small treasures.

Take, for instance, this early 1960s Mackintosh’s Quality Street tin, a charming piece in design and nostalgia. Its bright colors and festive artwork are a delightful throwback, especially now that these iconic tins are a favourite among collectors.

Oxo cubes, another classic product, also came in tins with unique designs. The example pictured here includes an advertisement printed on the inside lid, ensuring that the Oxo brand stayed fresh in the kitchen long after the last cube was used.

Then there are biscuit tins, often large enough to hold all kinds of collectibles. And finally, we have a well-loved tin from the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Although it’s over a century old, this tin continues to keep odds and ends safe, proving the durability and lasting charm of vintage tins.

These pieces of history serve as both decorative items and practical storage solutions, making them a favourite for collectors everywhere.

PEZ first appeared in the 1930s, originally designed as a mint candy to help steer servicemen away from smoking. Manufactured by an Austrian company, the first PEZ dispensers were simple tin creations. As production shifted to the United States, the dispensers evolved, becoming colourful holders for candy, and their iconic character designs began to emerge.

These early PEZ dispensers, often referred to as “soft heads” due to the material used, are now highly prized among collectors. Some of the rarest figures—like a peculiar hippo or an Austrian man—have sold for over $1,000 each. But it’s not just famous characters that hold value; some of the most sought-after dispensers are of figures many may not recognize.

Early models, often made from non-biodegradable plastic and featuring fun (yet sometimes dangerous) additions like whistle tops and glow-in-the-dark parts, are now more suited for display than practical use. Whether it’s nostalgia or rarity that attracts collectors, PEZ dispensers have cemented their place as a fun and quirky piece of candy history.

Tram tickets might seem like a small part of history, but these little paper tokens offer a fascinating glimpse into Manchester’s public transport past. What makes them particularly interesting for collectors—aside from their charming, tactile appeal—is the variety of colours used by tram companies. These hues weren’t just for show; they helped conductors quickly distinguish between fare types. It’s a visual cue that made collecting tickets an inevitable pursuit for anyone interested in the fine details of urban transport.

However, it’s the flipside of these tickets that has truly captured the imagination of collectors today. Originally, the back was reserved for rules and conditions of use, or simply left blank (as seen in some of the tickets here). But soon enough, companies realised the blank space was a goldmine—why not sell it for advertising? The result: a miniature marketplace of post-war Britain’s commercial landscape, crammed onto the back of every tram ticket.

From Bovril to biscuits, whiskey to rupture appliances (yes, you read that right), tram tickets became bite-sized billboards for everything under the sun. Whether promoting fresh cakes or second-hand furniture, these tickets now serve as a snapshot of everyday consumer culture during the era.

Today, they’re highly sought after by collectors with an interest in the home front and social history, offering not just a ride down memory lane, but a journey into the day-to-day lives of the people who used them. Fancy a ticket to nostalgia? Better punch it quick!

PEZ collectors know there’s something uniquely charming about these quirky candy dispensers. Whether you’re a casual collector or a serious enthusiast, these fun, inexpensive figures bring a sense of nostalgia and joy to anyone’s collection. Many collectors started small, but the hobby quickly grew with the introduction of themed PEZ lines.

PEZ wasn’t alone in the candy dispenser craze. Topps, famous for their baseball cards, also jumped into the trend with their own line of figures, featuring candy and collectible trading cards. The Star Wars set featured here is a prime example. Each dispenser in the set had one of four possible figure heads, but came with ten different numbered cards. This meant that collectors had to purchase the same dispenser multiple times in order to complete the card set.

Serious collectors often purchase two of each item—one to open, enjoy, and display, and another to keep mint in its packaging. However, with the shift to biodegradable packaging, many collectors are facing a new challenge: the packaging can degrade over time, making even mint, boxed items look unattractive. Some collectors now break the old rule of keeping everything sealed and carefully remove items to preserve them as the original packaging begins to break down. Though it’s a controversial practice, it’s one that might preserve the charm of these beloved collectibles for years to come.

Reminiscent of the illustrative style of Janet and John reading books, this Band of Hope Pledge offers a fascinating window into the temperance movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Established in 1847 in Leeds, England, the Band of Hope aimed to instill a sense of responsibility and abstinence from alcohol in children. This pledge card, adorned with vibrant illustrations and moral vignettes, is a testament to those efforts.

The card features central figures of a boy and girl, symbolizing the youth who committed to the cause. Surrounding them are emblems of health, happiness, prosperity, chivalry, and Christian living—each an ideal benefit of temperance. The promise, boldly printed, reads: “Because I want to be my best in every way, I PROMISE, by God’s help, never to take Alcoholic Drinks.”

Such artifacts are not only collectible but also serve as historical documents of past social movements. They highlight the values and societal goals of their time, offering a real connection to the history of public health and moral education campaigns. Items like this are invaluable for their cultural and historical significance, offering insights into the efforts to shape youth behavior and promote temperance.

Travel back in time to the cobblestone-laced roads of Edwardian Britain, and you’ll uncover the charming tales of early motoring, replete with mustachioed gentlemen in goggles and duster coats. Amongst such anecdotes, a delightful piece of motoring history has recently surfaced, involving a certain Percival Alexander Douglas-Barry Esq. and his encounters with the law.

In the summer of 1909, Percival found himself on the wrong side of the burgeoning traffic laws. With his motor car clocking speeds over 20 miles an hour – quite the feat in those days – he caught the attention of the Cheshire Constabulary. Percival received a sternly worded yet handwritten note, advising him to put a brake on his enthusiasm and ease off the accelerator.

Fast forward to a chilly January in 1932, and our intrepid motorist once again found himself in a pickle. This time, the offense was a tad dimmer: failing to keep his vehicle’s lights burning bright enough to reveal the registration numbers, a requirement under the Road Transport Lighting Act of 1927. This transgression led to an official summons to court, a more serious affair but still handled with that personal touch only a handwritten document could convey.

These letters, penned by the officers of the law, offer a quaint peek into the early days of traffic regulation. They not only remind us of how far we’ve zoomed ahead in the realm of vehicular laws but also hark back to a time when even a speeding ticket had a personal touch.