The Hobby

Introduction

The collecting of pictures is a primeval instinct, which for many evolved during the infancy years. In the earliest times, the cave man devised crude tools to make sketches upon the walls of his dwelling. In our present day, those who can afford to do so, spend enormous sums upon paintings to adorn the walls of their elegant homes. Card Collecting (Cartophily) meets this inborn desire of beauty.

Cigarette Cards

For many older collectors, card collecting revolved around collecting "cigarette cards". It was at its peak in NZ around the mid-1920s and continued for about 15 years. The small pictures of ships, trains, motorcars, animals, sportsmen and women, flags, soldiers and many other subjects were given away - one card in each packet of cigarettes, cigars and tobacco. Although initially intended as advertising the various brands of cigarettes and therefore directed at smokers, the cards were quickly seized upon by the children of the time. And it is because of the efforts of so many young collectors from that era, that large quantities of cigarette cards have survived in a variety of albums, books, bundles and forgotten shoe boxes. Cigarette card collecting has swept the world and it is now recognised as a major hobby (especially in England) rating with stamps, coins and medals.

Trade Cards

Although Trade Cards appeared before Cigarette Cards, their popularity with collectors has developed over the past three decades. The 2nd World War brought about the virtual disappearance of Cigarette Cards. In the 1950s, the absence of "pictures" with cigarettes thankfully encouraged manufacturers of other commodities to produce a continuing supply of alternative Cartophilic material: Gum cards, Tea cards, Liebig cards, and Cereal cards. One of the most prolific and most famous issuer of cereal cards is Sanitarium; who since 1941 have produced more than 100 card series covering a wide range of subjects and they are inexpensive to collect.

Trading Cards

Since the late 1980s/early 1990s, Trading Cards (cards usually sold at a fixed price in packets and not given away with a product) are making a large impact with many collectors. There are now several hundred issues from America and a few from Australia and New Zealand now appearing frequently on the market. Collecting cards keeps Cartophily in a live, healthy state. The availability of all types of cards has served as a stimulant for many of today's collectors; especially the younger generation who are the collectors of tomorrow.