The clue here was really obscure, but it goes back to 1886, when some workers at Woolwich Arsenal, a South London armament factory, were a bit bored on their off time, and so they started kicking a ball about. This led to them deciding to become a proper football team, and taking their name as "Dial Square", because above the main factory entrance was a square sundial. Their first game was on December 11, 1886, and they won, 6-0. And, not long after, they were rechristened "Royal Arsenal".
As for our connection, on a sunny day, the sun`s rays show the time on the sun dial, by casting a shadow. They travel far to do this, almost 150 million kilometres, and so by the time those sun rays reach us, they are much cooled - luckily, as on the outside of the sun it can reach 10,000 degrees F (or 5,600 degrees C). At the centre, by the way, it is estimated to be 27,000,000 degrees F (or 15,000,000 C).
This is just one of many cards that were sold in the same kind of way as what are now known as Baines Shields (or Medals) - in packets, each of which had a certain number of cards inside.
Several sites can be found online, and a particularly interesting one, albeit short, is at Brentford FC Memorabilia / Battock - it also shows some of the different backs, and they peg the number in the set at 109. Another reasonably small site is at 1920s Heaven / Battock - this one supplies us with a later address as well, in SW1, and also splits the cards into three groups, namely Series 1 (1923), Series 2 (1924) and Series 3 (1925).
In our original British Trade Index, issued in 1962, the description is rather vague, reading :
J. C. Battock, London, E.C.2
Cards sold in packets, about 1915 - 25
CRICKET AND FOOTBALL CARDS (A). Md. 70 x 58. Coloured or Black and White. Various series. ... BEV-1
However in our British Trade Index part III, issued in 1986, things are a bit more informative and the text there reads :
J. C. Battock - BEV in 1
BEV-1 (Cricket and Football Cards - Coloured). There are two sets. Eight backs, as follows, wording in different styles for each set. :
A. "Battock`s Football and Jersey Cards ...
B. "Cover Cards ..."
C. "Guessing Numbers..."
D. Puts Down ..."
E. "Save Battock`s Cards ..."
F. "Snap Cards ..."
G. "Skimmer Cards ... "
H. "We will send you ,,, "
-1. Set 1. Coloured backgrounds. Backs E and F indicate 54 Cricket and 54 Football cards in the set.
Now I am going to patch the tables in later, to save time.
-2. Set 2. White backgrounds. Back E indicates that the 18 subjects marked " in the listing would be exchanged for a football or a jersey. Five of these have not been studied and may have been issued in reduced quantities. 50 listed below, all Football Cards. Only eight basic designs were used.
another table
Cricket and Football Cards - Uncoloured (A). 70 x 60. Back "Battock`s Painting and Crayoning Competition", embodying form for entry ... BEV-2
There are a couple of additions to the above lists in British Trade Index three, published in 1997, namely
BEV-1-1. (Cricket Cards). No.8 (Wellington) is known with back E
BEV-1-2. (Football Cards). No.28 (Merthyr Town) is known with back H.
Add : 51. Southport. E.
By the time of our updated British Trade Index all this is brought together, as :
J. C. Battock - London E.C.2.
Cards sold in packets, about 1915-25. Although commercial, these issues continue to be listed as they are so widely collected.
CRICKET AND FOOTBALL CARDS (A). 70 x 58. Unnd. Coloured on a) coloured background, b) white background. Eight backs known, with wording in style different to BAT-200. See HB-85. ...BAT-200
CRICKET AND FOOTBALL CARDS (A). 70 x 58. Unnd. B & W on white background. Back "Battock`s Painting and Crayoning Competition", embodying form for entry. Fronts were to be painted and sent in. See HB-86. ... BAT-210
I have to say that I think the end of the first group above should have read "different to BAT-210". There is something else which puzzles me too, and that is whether anyone owns any of the hand coloured cards? If you do please tell us, because it would be interesting to find out if they were returned or not.