This is one of the many "Alike" Series which were issued by several related and unrelated businesses in the 1960s, and they are listed under the D and HX sections of our original Trade Index set and our more modern volumes.
Intriguingly, this was the only set of cards ever issued by Preston Dairies. There is some variation as to the date, of this set and the alikes. Murray Catalogue of Values says 1966 on this set, but in our Cartophilic Notes and News magazine (Vol.1 No..5 - September October 1965) it says this set is "an alike series similar to the set issued by Armitage Bros Ltd" It was reported as a new issue by Mr. W Smart, who I knew very well as Bill Smart, one of the most prolific collectors of tea related material.
Armitage Bros Ltd were not issuers of tea, but of pet foods, and they did issue other sets. Their version of this set is stated to have been issued in either 1964 or 1966, but as the snippet above from our magazine proves it cannot have been 1966 for it was being referred to as an alike series to that of Preston Dairies in the Autumn of 1965. The Armitage Bros cards can be found in more than one printing, but I think a bit of assistance from you may be required - under ARB-2 in our original four Trade Indexes it states that (a) is with address and (b) is without. However in our Cartophilic Notes and News magazine (Vol.1 No.9 - May June 1966) there is a reference to the fact that the address is either (a) Armitage Bros. Ltd, Colwick, Nottingham or (b) Armitage Bros. Ltd, 29/31 Castle Gate, Nottingham. Is this a relocation? If so that might help us with the dating. Version (b) also has an error card, which seems not to be recorded anywhere else, namely card no. 2, which has been changed title and text, giving two different printings - (a) Guernsey Cows - Similar in conformation to Jersey Cows - and - (b) Cows - Cows perhaps more than any other farm animals.
So has anyone got the Armitage Bros Ltd version without an address? If so let us know.
The other issuer of this set was Home Counties Dairies, with tea. This was supposed to have been issued in 1964, and they also issued at least one other set (which is shorthand for I cant read my notes) . However it was not reported until our Cartophilic Notes and News magazine (Vol.1 No.7 - January February 1966), and it was not mentioned along with Armitage Bros in the earlier magazine, so I think this discounts the 1964 date, for someone would have written in and claimed the kudos of well actually I have it in another printing!