And now the fun begins.
For though this set is called “Racing Scenes” it is only by usage - this title is not on the cards. And there is a strong case that it was intended to be two separate sets, with different names. There is certainly no denying that the cards are split equally into two types, twenty five of the racing colours and twenty five being mixed racing scenes.
This is backed up by our original reference book RB.5. a third of which is devoted to the issues of E. & W. Anstie Ltd. In here, these cards are split, and the date is also different, the first group coming in 1922 and the second in 1923. The complete text for these sets is :
1922. 25. RACING COLOURS (untitled series). Size 2 11/16” x 1 7/16”. Numbered 1-25. Fronts, lithographed in full colours, titled,: no margins. Backs, printed in grey-black : no descriptions, the word “Downland” appears above explanatory matter. Please refer to “Famous Horses, Jockeys and Race Courses” for numbers 26-50.”
1923. 25. FAMOUS HORSES, JOCKEYS, AND RACE COURSES (untitled series). Size 2 11/16” x 1 7/16”. Numbered 26-50. (For the first 25 cards please refer to”Racing Colours”.) Fronts lithographed in full colours, and titled,: no margins. Backs, printed in grey-black : with descriptions, the word “Downland” appears below the description”
Now someone much more numerate than I has given the first part the reference number of AN-20, and the second part AN-4, by counting the set titles as they appear in that section.
And, as we found out yesterday, this set is also shown in two parts in our World Tobacco Issues Indexes, albeit grouped together under one name, with the text reading :
RACING SCENES. (A). Sm. 68 x 37.
1. Nos. 1/25 – Racing Colours.
2. Nos. 26/50 – Horses, Jockeys, etc.