The clue here was a very simple one, the player’s surname, “Brain”, which is where the processing of numbers and letters takes place. In fact there is a section of the brain that only handles numbers - it is the fronto-parietal cortex, which roughly runs in a sloping direction from the top of the ear to the top of the head. Recent studies have found that if the brain is given very few single digit numbers it can do the job quickly, but larger numbers and more complex sums take longer, and are not always immediately correct, though the error is often very quickly corrected.
As most things, numeracy reaches a peak, usually in young adulthood, and then declines - if it is not used. It is thought this is because when people are at school and college and then university, they are working out mathematical problems on a regular basis, but then they go to work and most people hardly use maths in their job, especially without relying on a computer or calculator.
James Brain was a footballer and a manager. He was born on September 11th 1900, in Bristol, and died in 1971. His first team was across the border though, with a trial for Cardiff City leading to a spot on the team at Ton Pentre. Then in 1923 he was signed by Arsenal, becoming one of their most prolific goal-getters. He also played in their first ever F.A. Cup Final. However in 1931 he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, for three years, before moving back closer to home and becoming part of Swansea Town, Bristol City, and Cheltenham Town. whom he also managed.
This card is described in our World Tobacco Issues Indexes as :
FOOTBALLERS SERIES. Sm. Nd.
A. Captions in blue (50)
B. Captions in black (100)
The word "captions" might be a bit misleading, but it means the footballer`s name on the front in the small white panel. Luckily we have used the black version before, which is why that is bold - if you click there it is a link and you can visit it.
I am not sure how the numbering goes, as to whether the first fifty are identical in both sets and the next fifty new. If you know, do tell us.