This card was chosen because it was issued by OXO, and also because the wording on the card says "OXO Better than Beef tea".
Sadly, when an ox gets to be about seven years old , it is deemed to be at the end of its working life, And despite the sterling service it has performed, it is fit for nothing more than becoming beef.
The reverse of these cards are descriptive, but only in as much as describing what to do with them, namely to slightly moisten a paintbrush with water and touch each section with it, very gently, washing the brush out after each dab so as not to run the colours together. However, as the painters were children, you can imagine these instructions were seldom followed with the strictness that was intended....
Our card, unusually, is still unpainted, and that makes it quite a rarity.
Now before we gallop on, do note there is a football card in this set, number ten. And also other sports - golf at card 22, and boxing at card 27.
The set is described in our original British Trade Index as :
- MYSTERY PAINTING PICTURES. Min 56 x 34. Nd. (30) ... OXO-7
However, in our updated version when you look at Oxo it says "OXO Ltd., London - See Liebig Oxo".
You do get a much better description there though, namely :
- MYSTERY PAINTING PICTURES. (O) 1928. 56 x 34. B&W, for colouring. Nd. (30) . Back "Brush with damp brush", when colours are revealed. Vari-backed, 5 adverts, each on 6 cards... LIE-190
The different backs are in the box above the “OXO” – and they are
- An OXO a day Keeps illness at bay (2, 10, 15, 20, 25)
- Don’t get run down – take OXO (7, 27)
- For the children`s breakfast a porringer of OXO and milk with bread or toast sippets (3, 19)
- OXO and milk is a splendid nightcap (10, 26)
- Oxo sandwiches make a nice school lunch (4, 8, 13, 18)
As for the cards in the set, they are :
- OXO is refreshing when Fatigued
- OXO gives the Best of Health
- OXO vitality
- OXO Better than Beef Tea
- OXO suits all ages
- An OXO kick
- OXO Sandwiches
- Ma Mither winna gie me any mair OXO it maks me grow out o` ma claes
- OXO makes me grow “nearly as tall as Mother”
- OXO My Nightcap
- OXO promotes a healthy race
- Tommy joined a golf club and since he OXO drinks
he is without exception quite the champion of the links - Quite well, Doctor, thanks to you and OXO
- Now when Sir Thomas Tomkins sits him down to sup,
six other (small) editions share the OXO cup - At cricket and at football, at boxing, hockey, too
he far excelled his schoolmates through training on OXO