1900-05 Sporting Terms (Clarke’s, Wills, Grenadier) Set and Checklist

‘It’s In The Details’

Title Clarke’s Sporting Terms
Year 1900-05
Size 1 1/2″ x 2 1/4″
Images Color
Type Tobacco
Number in Set
50

1900-05 Sporting Terms (Clarke’s, Wills, Grenadier) Set Overview

Clarke Sporting TermsThis old, unique set features terms that would be used on the golf course and other sporting venues. While the golf cards are generally the most desirable, other sports were included in the set as well. In all, there are 50 cards in the set with 12 golf cards, 12 soccer/rugby cards, 12 cycling cards, and 14 cricket cards.

Of note is that, while this is a sports set, many pictures do not show sports images. Instead, they merely provide a sports term with a cartoon picture that is often humorous and non-sports in nature. The soccer/rugby cards can sometimes be mistaken for American football as the title for those is called, “Football Terms.” But as this is an international set, they are mostly considered to be cards depicting rugby and soccer.

The cards were issued by several tobacco companies, including Clarke & Son Tobacco, Wills, and Grenadier in their tobacco packages. The cards advertise the various brands of those companies.

Clarke Brands (1900)

This website provides a list of the various Clarke brands:

  • Champagne Cigarettes in packets …
  • Champagne Cigarettes manufactured …
  • Lift Guard Cigarettes
  • Masterpiece Cigarettes
  • Musk Rose Cigarettes
  • Patent Cork Belted Silk Cut Cigarettes (10d)
  • Patent Cork Belted Silk Cut Cigarettes (sold in boxes)
  • Patent Cork Belted Turkish Cigarettes
  • Patent Cork Belted Virginia Cigarettes
  • Seddon Patent Cork Mouthpiece

W. Faulkner (1900)

  • Grenadier Cigarettes

Wills (1905)

  • Capstan Cigarettes
  • Vice Regal Mixture

An artist signature was added and the cards had a copyright designation as well. Backs were basic but unique with advertisements for the various brands above. Clarke and Faulkner are believed to have issued these cards in 1900 with Wills following in 1905.

1900-05 Sporting Terms (Clarke’s, Wills, Grenadier) Set Checklist

Cricket Cards

  1. Wide
  2. TBD
  3. TBD
  4. TBD
  5. TBD
  6. TBD
  7. TBD
  8. TBD
  9. TBD
  10. TBD
  11. TBD
  12. TBD
  13. TBD
  14. TBD

Cycling Cards

  1. A Gear Case
  2. Mud Guard
  3. A Puncture
  4. Side Shake
  5. TBD
  6. TBD
  7. TBD
  8. TBD
  9. TBD
  10. TBD
  11. TBD
  12. TBD

Golf Cards

  1. 2 Up and 1 to Play
  2. 27 1/2 Eclipse
  3. All Square
  4. A Bugler
  5. Dead on the Green
  6. Giving a Half
  7. A Good Grip
  8. Keep Your Eye on the Ball
  9. A Lofting Iron
  10. Long Odd
  11. A Scratch Player
  12. An Uneven Match

Rugby and Soccer Cards

  1. Dark Blue Forwards, Light Blue Backs
  2. A Drop Over The Bar
  3. Forward
  4. Full Back
  5. Half Back
  6. A High Kickoff
  7. Inside Left
  8. Inside Right
  9. A Scrimmage Near The Line
  10. Socker
  11. Touch Down
  12. Well Tackled

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