Now I have spoken of Robin Hood in passing, but not told of his tale.
Something we all think we know was that he was an outlaw, but also a hero; loved by the poor, to whom he brought clothing, food, and money - but hated by the rich, whose worldly goods those had been.
It is said Robin Hood was first immortalised in folk ballads in the fourteenth century. That was "The Vision of Piers the Plowman", by William Langland, written in 1377 - but if you read that it clearly states that the tales of Robyn Hood were well known, and had been for some time. That leads credence to the belief that he was actually from a much earlier time, maybe even a Saxon Earl.
As for what else we think he know about him, all is come from legend - the green of the clothing he wore (which is unlikely), the fact that he was born in Lockersley (though there never was a place of that name), and that he was based in Sherwood Forest (possibly).
Even his band of outlaws and the love of his life, the noblewoman, Maid Marian were all embroidered into the story as it gathered momentum - Friar Tuck coming along in 1475, heedless of the fact that during the reign of King Richard the first all kinds of religion were banned - Maid Marian only appearing in the sixteenth century as a simple shepherdess.
At first his only companion is Little John, who began in "The Vision of Piers the Plowman", by William Langland, written in 1377, and we even think that this character was at first the hero of the story, with Robin Hood coming into the story, as an interloper, much later.
Robin Hood first appears on cards in 1924, as card number three of Carreras`s "Highwaymen". The text there tells us that he "Was the hero of a group of old English Ballads. Represented as an outlaw and a robber, but in reality of a gallant and generous nature. His familiar haunts were the Forests of Sherwood and Barnsdale. Unrivalled with the bow and quarterstaff, and generous to the poor, and all honest men in distress."
His next appearance is as the star of a set called "Robin Hood", a set of thirty cards issued by Typhoo Tea, in 1926. The text there tells us that he was "Born Locksley in Yorkshire, (or Notts.) about 1160. Reported to have been Earl of Huntingdon. His company consisted of 100 archers. He frequented Barnsdale and Sherwood Forests, and according to some, Plompton Park in Cumberland. He took from the rich only, and charitably fed the poor".
The following year, he can be found on card 9 of E. & S. C.W.S.` "Peeps into History", a humorous look into the past. The front shows the Merry Men, and Maid Marian, enjoying a tea break, with china cups. Maid Marian even has a saucer. The text there says "Robin Hood and His Merry Men. A.D. 1195. The name of Robin Hood even to-day suggests a picture of freedom and happiness. Whether this is true or not is a matter of conjecture, but we do know he contributed much to the history of "Merry England". How much merrier they might have been had they known the joys of C.W.S. Tea, and particularly "DIGESTIVE TEA TIPS" ! The cup that cheers."
Though Robin Hood had appeared in five silent films already, we think that the above sets were all inspired by the 1922 version which starred Douglas Fairbanks as the Earl of Huntingdon, with Enid Bennett as Lady Marian Fitzwalter.
The set first appears in our British Trade Index part two, as :
The MASTER Vending Co., Ltd., London, N.W.3
or The Master Vending Machine Co. Cards issued 1958-60. Large size 95-96 x 65-66 m/m. Includes cards inscribed "Cardmaster" without firm`s name. Albums issued.
- A BOMBSHELL FOR THE SHERIFF. Lg. Nd. (25) ... MCA-1
In our updated version, it appears as :
- A BOMBSHELL FOR THE SHERIFF. 1959. Nd. (25) ... MAS-140
In fact since writing this I have discovered there were two Master Vending sets featuring Robin Hood, in a very similar style, the other set being called "Taxing The Sheriff", and being present in both Trade Indexes, just not linked to our set in any way, and, because the sets are listed in alphabetical order, some way further down. It was issued in the same year, and may even have come first. That is recorded in our original British Trade Index part two, without any mention of Robin Hood, which how I missed it, the entry simply reading :
- TAXING THE SHERIFF. 1959. Nd. (25) ... MCA-6
And in our updated version, it appears as :
- TAXING THE SHERIFF. 1959. Nd. (25) Backs are small sketches of Robin Hood ... MAS-190