Card of the Day - 2022-05-04

Now this is a very unusual set which is quite scarce in its homeland, let alone here. It was issued in 1955 and had two hundred cards selected from assorted images of railway trains and carriages, and seafaring vessels, hence the title. They measure 2-1/4 by 3-3/4 inches. 

There is a bit of a theory that it was originally designed to be two sets, and that is certainly supported by their design, as the train cards have the name printed along the bottom whilst the ship ones have the name within the picture. I suppose we will never know whether this is true, though if there were a hundred rail and a hundred sail cards it would be a good argument for two sets. 

Imagine you were a child then, and you will see how the backs are really exciting – look at our card - it has the signal arm holding the number, and the large illustration filling the bottom third, and the comic book style train at top left. No wonder that they were collected to destruction and they are now scarce. And then to the front, a Union Pacific Railroad Diesel Streamliner, looking for all the world like a spaceship from Flash Gordon. Even the sloping rake of the slot like windows encourages this sci-fi comparison.

Return to the back, and read that it was first used in 1934, and was “built of duralumin for lightness of weight”.

Then it says something I don’t believe, “This train has since been improved upon”. It may have been improved in performance but not in wonder and excitement, for the true thrill of any train, or any travel, is making you feel that you are about to have an adventure like none before. And seeing a spaceship waiting at the station would do that for us all. 

Now you might also notice that the copyright is T.C.G. Which, of course, is Topps Chewing Gum.