This was a simple starter, and the clue was "Bob".
A bob has long been a pseudonym for a shilling, though not quite as long as the shilling itself, which was first introduced by Henry VIII. In "old money" it was worth twelve pence. Oddly a bob was not pluralised when you had more than one, so you could still say three bob instead of three shillings
This set is quite hard to find, possibly because it is only on quite thin paper. And it only appears in our original set of British Trade Indexes, in part three.
Now if you look at the card, showing here, you will automatically go to D for Dobson - and we realised that would be the case because under F & M Dobson (Southern) Ltd of Biggin Hill, confectioners, is a little note to say that the Evening Chronicle set EVAM-1 was produced in conjunction with associated company F. M. Dobson of Ponteland, Northumberland. In fact F. & M. Dobson did issue a set of cards, in 1980, "Flags of the World", which we have now used and can link to.
Flicking over to EVAM-1 it says that the Evening Chronicle, a newspaper, issued these cards in 1981 in conjunction with F. M. Dobson of Ponteland, Northumberland. The set is listed as "Newcastle & Sunderland`s 100 Greatest Footballers", and it measures 76 x 38 m/m, being printed not on card but on paper, in black. They are also numbered, from 1-100. And you can look at the checklist of those hundred cards courtesy of our friends at the CartophilicInfoExchange/EVAM-1
However despite the codes all leading to the Evening Chronicle it does seem rather odd to me that the backs only advertise Dobson`s "Fizz Bombs" and not the newspaper. Though it is rather fun. The interesting thing about the back is the single word "original" because, yes, Fred Dobson, the self confessed North East Candy King, did invent the "Fizz Bomb", as well as "Rhubarb and Custards". And it is also said that he was the first person to ever tell someone they could BOGOF - by which I mean Buy One Get One Free. And it all started with him opening a corner shop. But you can read more, much more, about him at The Independent/FizzBomb
Because these sets were issued in 1980/81 they do not appear in our updated British Trade Index. However there are two sets listed for the Evening Chronicle, namely EVE-100 : Jack Payne and His Band, a large format insert on paper measuring 295 x 222 m/m and this is dated March 1934 - and EVE-110 : a set of twelve plain back, un-numbered black and white photographic cards called "Speedway Riders", they measure 194 x 134 m/m, and the subjects in the series are listed in our handbook under HE52.
A quick look in our vintage set of British Trade Indexes finds that the Jack Payne insert is listed in BTI part three, issued in 1986, as EVAM-0.5, but the Speedway riders are not.
Anyone know anything about these? If so please drop us an email at