1935 Hignett How to Swim Set and Checklist

‘It’s In The Details’

Title Hignett How to Swim
Year 1935
Size 1 3/8″ x 2 5/8″
Images Color
Type Tobacco
Number in Set
50

1935 Hignett How to Swim Set Overview

This rare set is one of the few that focuses on the sport of swimming and diving.

The cards were issued by Hignett Bros. & Co., a brand of The Imperial Tobacco Co. The set is dated to 1935 when there was a glut of international tobacco cards.

All images in the set are displayed horizontally. Women are displayed demonstrating four swimming strokes in all — the breast stroke, the crawl stroke, the double arm back stroke, and the back crawl stroke. Each card walks through a movement in the stroke with each stroke demonstrated over a series of cards. A total of 50 cards are in the set with each stroke getting more than ten cards. A total of 14 cards are dedicated to the crawl stroke, the most of any of the four types.

Fronts include a color depiction of a swimming or diving motion with a title and white borders. The fronts include the name of the stroke and the particular movement being focused on. Fronts also have the Hignett’s Cigarettes name. Backs include a short description of the action on the front. Backs also have a card number with the How to Swim title at the top while the bottom has the print while referencing Hignett at the bottom.

The set is fairly rare like most Hignett issues, which were not printed in the large quantity that sets from other popular international tobacco brands (i.e. Wills, Churchman, etc.) were. Each card in the set typically sells for a few dollars.

1935 Hignett How to Swim Set Checklist

  1. The Breast Stroke – The Poise
  2. The Breast Stroke- Leg Action, First Position
  3. The Breast Stroke – Leg Action, Second Position
  4. The Breast Stroke – Leg Action, Third Position
  5. The Breast Stroke – Arm Action, First Position
  6. The Breast Stroke – Arm Action, Second Position
  7. The Breast Stroke – Arm Action, Third Position
  8. The Breast Stroke – Arm Action, Fourth Position
  9. The Breast Stroke – Breathing (Inhaling)
  10. The Breast Stroke – Breathing (Exhaling)
  11. The Breast Stroke – Inter-Timing of the Arm and Leg Actions, First Position
  12. The Breast Stroke – Inter-Timing of the Arm and Leg Actions, Second Position
  13. The Breast Stroke – Isolated Limb Action
  14. The Crawl Stroke – The Poise
  15. The Crawl Stroke – Arm Recovery, First Position
  16. The Crawl Stroke – Arm Recovery, Second Position
  17. The Crawl Stroke – Arm Recovery, Third Position
  18. The Crawl Stroke – Arm Pull, First Position
  19. The Crawl Stroke – Arm Pull, Second Position
  20. The Crawl Stroke – Arm Pull, Third Position
  21. The Crawl Stroke- Leg Action, First Position
  22. The Crawl Stroke – Leg Action, Second Position
  23. The Crawl Stroke – Leg Action, Third Position
  24. The Crawl Stroke – Breathing (Inhaling)
  25. The Crawl Stroke – Breathing (Exhaling)
  26. The Crawl Stroke – Inter-Timing of the Arm and Leg Actions
  27. The Crawl Stroke – Isolated Limb Action
  28. The Double Arm Back Stroke – The Poise
  29. The Double Arm Back Stroke- Leg Action, First Position
  30. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Leg Action, Second Position
  31. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Leg Action, Third Position
  32. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Arm Action, First Position
  33. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Arm Action, Second Position
  34. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Arm Action, Third Position
  35. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Arm Action, Fourth Position
  36. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Arm Action, Fifth Position
  37. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Inter-Timing of the Arm and Leg Actions, First Position
  38. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Inter-Timing of the Arm and Leg Actions, Second Position
  39. The Double Arm Back Stroke – Isolated Limb Action
  40. The Back Crawl Stroke – The Poise
  41. The Back Crawl Stroke- Leg Action, First Position
  42. The Back Crawl Stroke – Leg Action, Second Position
  43. The Back Crawl Stroke – Leg Action, Third Position
  44. The Back Crawl Stroke – Arm Action, First Position
  45. The Back Crawl Stroke – Arm Action, Second Position
  46. The Back Crawl Stroke – Arm Action, Third Position
  47. The Back Crawl Stroke – Arm Action, Fourth Position
  48. The Back Crawl Stroke – Arm Action, Fifth Position
  49. The Back Crawl Stroke – Inter-Timing of the Arm and Leg Actions
  50. The Back Crawl Stroke – Isolated Limb Action

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