Card of the Day - 2025-01-04

FKS Mexico 70
F.K.S Publishers Ltd. [trade/commercial : stickers : UK - London] "Mexico 70" / "World Cup Soccer Stars" (1970) 14/272 - FAA-3

This card refers to the surname, "Jones", which was the real surname of David Bowie, born David Robert Jones. In fact when he started out he did try to use David Jones, but the name was too similar to the Monkees` Davy Jones, born David Thomas Jones, in Manchester, in 1945.

There is also a link with the "Mick" part, as the guitarist of David Bowie`s "Spiders From Mars" band was Michael "Mick" Ronson 

This set is usually known as "Mexico 70", but it has another title, of "World Cup Soccer Stars". And, in fact, the album is titled "World Cup Soccer Stars - Mexico 70".

The cards were issued to commemorate the World Cup of 1970, which, as you all know, was the one which we hoped to defend, after our win in 1966. It is almost certain that this was why the stickers were produced, for the entire thirty strong England Squad are shown, and only sixteen for each of the other countries

Unfortunately this was not to be the case, and Brazil won, 4–1, against Italy - a notable match, for it was the first time that both protagonists had won the cup before, Italy`s former victories being in 1934 and 1938, whilst Brazil`s were more recent, being in 1958 and 1962. West Germany was third, and Uruguay fourth.  England was knocked out in the quarter finals, beaten 3-2 by West Germany, in a complete reversal of the 1966 result.  West Germany were then beaten by Italy to make one half of the final. 

Now we know that the stickers came in a packet of seven, and each packet cost 6d. The albums cost an extra two shillings and sixpence, and the cards still had to be fixed in by gluing, this was before the days of the peel and place. If you failed to complete an album, you could order the stickers you lacked from F.K.S, but only up to December 1970.

Now some collectors swear that this set was available much earlier, but that does seem an awfully long time to allow for completion. However they do have some supporting evidence, for the album, printed in Spain, gives a copyright date of 1967. 

Sadly, F.K.S. ended up going bankrupt in the late 1980s. 

F.K.S sets are listed in our British Trade Index part III, starting with the 1968 set of "The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars" and ending with the 1982 sets of "Spain 83" and "Nasties", which was prepared for issue but never actually was. This seems to be regarded as their final issue, and no more appear in our British Trade Index part IV. But if anyone knows of later sets do send them along.

Our set is described as : 

1970-1  Mexico 70 (A). 72 x 49. Nd. (272). Anonymous, back style as Fig.FAA-2 ... FAA-3

The back at FAA-2 was used from 1968 until 1971 on four sets, "The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars" (1968), "The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars in Action" (1969), our set "Mexico 70" (1970) and "Soccer Stars - Gala Collection" (1970). There was a different back on the set which follows, "The Wonderful World of Animals" (1971)

In our updated British Trade Index, no sets are listed, only this :

F.K.S. Publishers Ltd. London
Commercial issues, cards sold in shops, in packets of five to ten, 1968-70, post 1970 issues mentioned in post-1970 volume. No details listed in this volume.