Collector Cards

These cards were distributed in packages of Toasted Prairie Nuts, Toasted Rice Nuts, and Bracer cereal.

These Second World War collector cards, distributed by Toronto candy maker Robertson Brothers, showed military honours and rank insignia: Order of St Michael and St George; Royal Red Cross; South African Medal; Conspicuous Gallantry Medal; Naval General Service Medal; Order of the British Empire; Distinguished Flying Cross; Long Service and Good Conduct Medal; Croix de Guerre; British Victory Medal; Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field; Distinguished Flying Medal; Order of Merit; Air Force Cross; Distinguished Service Medal.

This First World War cigarette card illustrates the technology of the underwater anti-ship mine.

Distributed with potato chips as a product premium during the Second World War, these cards depicted famous Allied aircraft: Hawker Hurricane: Supermarine Spitfire; Bristol Blenheim IV; Blackburn Skua; Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk; Bell Airacobra; Lockheed B-14 Hudson; North American NA-73; Bristol Beaufort; Sunderland Flying Boat; Avro Anson; Fairey Swordfish; Blackburn Roc; Consolidated B-24; Douglas DB-7 Boston; Vickers-Armstrong Wellington; Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley IV; North American Harvard; Westland Lysander; Vickers-Armstrong Stranraer; Lockheed P-38; Fairey Battle; Boeing B-17E; Brewste

This Second World War cigarette card shows soldiers digging in under enemy fire.

This First World War cigarette card featured King George V as a leader of the Allied war effort.

This Second World War bubble gum card series showing Allied naval vessels was distributed before May 1941, when HMS Hood was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean: HMS Warspite; HMS Jersey; HMIS Hindustan; HMS Illustrious; HMS Aurora; HMS Erebus; HMS Wolfhound; HMS Barham; HMS Belfast; HMS Hood; HMS Penelope; HMAS Adelaide; HMCS St Laurent; HMS Hawkins; HMCS Saguenay; HMS Faulknor; HMS Emerald; HMS Witch.

Most children were interested in collecting the bubble gum cards, rather than in saving the packaging - which is also an interesting example of contemporary graphic art.

John Player & Sons Cigarette Company released a series of collectors cards titled "Army Corps & Divisional Signs 1914-1918." Originally there were only 50 in the series, but two more sets were released. In total, there are 107 in the collection.