1936 Allen’s Sports and Flags of Nations Set and Checklist
‘It’s In The Details’
Title | Allen’s Sports and Flags of Nations |
Year | 1936 |
Size | 1 5/8″ x 2 1/2″ |
Images | Color |
Type | Food and Candy/Gum |
Number in Set |
36 |
Allen’s Sports and Flags of Nations Overview
Allen’s is an Australian confectionery company producing a wide variety of products. Founded in 1891, the company was taken over by Nestle in the 1980s.
Allen’s distributed this set of 36 cards featuring the flags and sports of various countries around the world. To the bulk of American collectors, the most important card is No. 16, which features American and the sport of baseball. Also in the set is a card for Sweden that features hockey.
The baseball card features the American flag as well as the name ‘America’ at the bottom of a circular image depicting a generic baseball player. The back presents a short biography of the sport and reads:
“Baseball can rightly be called American’s national game and is played throughout the country. Immense crowds go to see their teams play and leading baseballers are the highest-paid men in the country.”
In addition to the baseball card, a second American card is also included featuring the sport of golf. America, Australia, and England all have two cards. Some sports are also covered more than once as noted below.
In addition to the major sports of baseball and hockey, other popular sets include golf, tennis, and soccer. Three football cards are included but collectors should note that the Australian football card depicts rugby while the other two are (to Americans, anyway) soccer.
While the biographies of the sports did not change, there are four different backs as they feature different advertisements for a number of Allen’s products. Those are listed below and you may sometimes see the set listed with these names.
- Allen’s Cure ‘Em Quick
- Allen’s Irish Moss Gum Jubes
- Allen’s Q-T Fruit Drops
- Allen’s Steam Rollers
Because some of these products can be considered either food or candy, I have listed this set in both the food and candy/gum sections of this site.
Allen’s Sports and Flags of Nations Checklist
- Australia – Cricket
- Australia – Football (Rugby)
- Scotland – Golf
- England – Cricket
- Canada – Lacrosse
- South Africa – Big Game Hunting
- England – Football (Soccer)
- India – Polo
- Scotland – Curling
- England – Hunting
- Ireland – Horse Racing
- Wales – Football (Soccer)
- Ceylon – Rickshaw Racing
- New Zealand – Fishing
- Austria – Mountaineering
- America – Baseball
- Norway – Skiing
- France – Tennis
- Japan – Staff Fishing
- America – Golf
- Germany – Physical Culture
- Russia – Sleighing
- Belgium – Bike Riding
- China – Kite Flying
- Switzerland – Chamois Shooting
- Finland – Field Games
- Spain – Bullfighting
- Denmark – Swimming
- Sweden – Ice Hockey
- Czecoslovakia – Boat Racing
- Holland – Skating
- Brazil – Bullfighting
- Italy – Motor Racing
- Greece – Wrestling
- Mexico – Horse Racing
- Poland – Field Games
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