1930s Cloetta / Cloetta Ross Sets

‘It’s In The Details’

Title Cloetta / Cloetta Ross
Year 1930s
Size 1 1/16″ x 1 15/16″
Images Black and White
Type Gum/Candy
Number in Set
172 (?) in each set

1930s Cloetta / Cloetta Ross Set Overview

Fred Perry 1930 Cloetta Ross Tennis.jpgCloetta Jack Dempsey Boxing.jpgThese sets are releases from a Swedish candy company sometime around 1930. Dating seems to be somewhat up in the air. PSA has graded these cards as 1930 issues while SGC has graded them as 1930, 1930s, and 1932. Sellers advertising these cards have most often used anything from 1930 through 1932.

These small cards feature black and white images of athletes as part of a multi-sport set. Cards are commonly listed as being 1″ x 2″ but the measurements are a tad off from that. The cards are unique looking with a black and white picture at the top and a full-bleed white border area at the bottom with the athlete’s name. A card number is also printed on them and the back includes an advertisement for Cloetta.

Cards found in the series’ cover a multitude of sports, including hockey, boxing, tennis, track and field, soccer, wrestling, and others. Boxing greats Jack Dempsey, Max Schmeling, and Gene Tunney, are among the keys to the set.

Of importance, though, to tennis collectors is the recognized rookie card for Hall of Famer Fred Perry. Other tennis standouts include Hall of Famers Helen Wills, Rene Lacoste, and Henri Cochet. In addition, some athletes are featured more than once. Additionally, at least two hockey cards are in the set featuring Birger Wejdeby and a team. Technically, the cards feature the sport of bandy, which is similar to ice hockey. Finally, swimming great Johnny Weismuller is found in the set, too.

A final note on the Cloetta cards is that Cloetta also produced a similar-looking but different set consisting of movie stars/non-sports subjects.

Cloetta vs. Cloetta Ross Cards

Nurmi Cloetta No RossNurmi Cloetta RossThe cards are called both Cloetta and Cloetta Ross as there are actually two different sets. This, as you can imagine, has caused a great deal of confusion.

Part of the confusion stems from the fact that one type is very rare. The stock varies slightly between the two but the easiest way to tell them apart is on the front. Most cards have a card number and the ‘Ross’ name beneath it. However, some merely have the number with no ‘Ross.’ As a result, one set is referred to as Cloetta and the other is Cloetta Ross.

Here is an example with cards pictured featuring runner Paavo Nurmi. As you can see, the pictures are the same. However, the card numbers, and their subsequent placement, are different. As stated, when trying to determine which of the two cards you are viewing, always look for the ‘Ross’ name. The card on the left is from the Cloetta Ross set while the one on the right, which does not have that information, is simply a ‘Cloetta’ card.

Cards without the Ross are much rarer.

Here’s a closer look at the two different types.

1930s Cloetta / Cloetta Ross Sets Checklist

PSA notes there are 172 total cards in the sets but I have not been able to confirm that. There appear to be about that many at least, though, as they have graded a card as high as 169.

Checklisting efforts for these sets can be dizzying as not all collectors attempting to checklist it are aware that there are two different issues.

Below are the cards I have seen or have had verified for each set.

Cloetta ‘Ross’ set

  1. TBD
  2. TBD
  3. TBD
  4. TBD
  5. Pete Desjardins
  6. TBD
  7. TBD
  8. TBD
  9. TBD
  10. TBD
  11. E. Penttila
  12. Gillis Grafstrom
  13. B. Selen och D. Carlsson
  14. Johan Grottumsbraten
  15. Emil Hirschfeld
  16. Fred Perry
  17. TBD
  18. Matti Jarvinen
  19. Harri Larva
  20. TBD
  21. TBD
  22. Max Schmeling
  23. TBD
  24. TBD
  25. TBD
  26. TBD
  27. TBD
  28. Paavo Nurmi
  29. George Kojac
  30. TBD
  31. Per Kaufeit
  32. TBD
  33. Sonja Heine
  34. TBD
  35. TBD
  36. TBD
  37. TBD
  38. TBD
  39. Bill Tilden / Jean Borotra
  40. TBD
  41. TBD
  42. TBD
  43. Ole Stenen
  44. TBD
  45. Young Stribling
  46. Olle Ericsson
  47. TBD
  48. TBD
  49. TBD
  50. Ivan Lindgren
  51. Sven Eriksson
  52. Helen Wills
  53. TBD
  54. TBD
  55. TBD
  56. Rene Lacoste / Henri Cochet
  57. TBD
  58. TBD
  59. David Jack
  60. TBD
  61. TBD
  62. TBD
  63. TBD
  64. TBD
  65. TBD
  66. TBD
  67. TBD
  68. TBD
  69. TBD
  70. TBD
  71. Sven Utterstrom
  72. TBD
  73. Gene Tunney
  74. TBD
  75. P.E. Hedlund
  76. TBD
  77. Enskede Johnsson
  78. TBD
  79. TBD
  80. TBD
  81. TBD
  82. TBD
  83. Ramberg/Ostberg/Thoren/Garell
  84. Ivan Ballangrud
  85. TBD
  86. TBD
  87. TBD
  88. TBD
  89. Nurmi, Larma
  90. TBD
  91. TBD
  92. TBD
  93. TBD
  94. TBD
  95. TBD
  96. TBD
  97. Primo Carnera
  98. TBD
  99. TBD
  100. TBD
  101. Nurmi, Wide, Koivunalho
  102. Johnny Weismuller
  103. TBD
  104. TBD
  105. TBD
  106. TBD
  107. TBD
  108. TBD
  109. Arne Rustadstuen
  110. Paavo Nurmi / Reidar Jorgensen
  111. TBD
  112. TBD
  113. TBD
  114. Rene Lacoste
  115. TBD
  116. Ishollo, Lehtinen, Nurmi, Virtanen
  117. Sven Rydell
  118. TBD
  119. Otto Von Porat
  120. TBD
  121. TBD
  122. TBD
  123. TBD
  124. TBD
  125. TBD
  126. Gunnar Galin
  127. TBD
  128. TBD
  129. Jack Dempsey
  130. TBD
  131. TBD
  132. Greta Molander
  133. Karin Thundberg-Arvidsson
  134. TBD
  135. TBD
  136. TBD
  137. TBD
  138. TBD
  139. Birger Wejdeby
  140. TBD
  141. TBD
  142. Sven Salen
  143. TBD
  144. Ture Mannerfelt
  145. Ivar Johansson
  146. TBD
  147. S. Norrby
  148. TBD
  149. Helge Jansson
  150. Lojtnant Francke
  151. TBD
  152. TBD
  153. TBD
  154. TBD
  155. TBD
  156. TBD
  157. TBD
  158. TBD
  159. TBD
  160. TBD
  161. Jompa Nilsson
  162. TBD
  163. TBD
  164. TBD
  165. TBD
  166. TBD
  167. TBD
  168. TBD
  169. TBD
  170. TBD
  171. TBD
  172. TBD

Cloetta set (no Ross name)

  1. TBD
  2. TBD
  3. Knut Kroon
  4. TBD
  5. TBD
  6. TBD
  7. TBD
  8. TBD
  9. TBD
  10. TBD
  11. TBD
  12. Gene Tunney
  13. TBD
  14. TBD
  15. TBD
  16. Paavo Nurmi
  17. TBD
  18. TBD
  19. TBD
  20. TBD
  21. TBD
  22. TBD
  23. TBD
  24. TBD
  25. TBD
  26. Sven Rydell
  27. TBD
  28. TBD
  29. TBD
  30. Sigge Lindberg
  31. TBD
  32. TBD
  33. TBD
  34. TBD
  35. TBD
  36. Filip Johansson
  37. David Jack
  38. TBD
  39. TBD
  40. E. Ullrich
  41. John Nilsson
  42. TBD
  43. TBD
  44. TBD
  45. TBD
  46. TBD
  47. Curt Ostberg
  48. TBD
  49. TBD
  50. Anders Rydberg
  51. TBD
  52. TBD
  53. TBD
  54. TBD
  55. TBD
  56. TBD
  57. TBD
  58. TBD
  59. TBD
  60. TBD
  61. TBD
  62. TBD
  63. TBD
  64. TBD
  65. TBD
  66. TBD
  67. TBD
  68. TBD
  69. TBD
  70. TBD
  71. TBD
  72. TBD
  73. TBD
  74. TBD
  75. TBD
  76. TBD
  77. TBD
  78. TBD
  79. TBD
  80. TBD
  81. TBD
  82. TBD
  83. TBD
  84. TBD
  85. TBD
  86. TBD
  87. Harry Dahl
  88. TBD
  89. Helge Dunker
  90. TBD
  91. TBD
  92. TBD
  93. TBD
  94. TBD
  95. TBD
  96. TBD
  97. TBD
  98. TBD
  99. TBD
  100. TBD
  101. TBD
  102. TBD
  103. TBD
  104. TBD
  105. TBD
  106. TBD
  107. TBD
  108. TBD
  109. TBD
  110. TBD
  111. TBD
  112. TBD
  113. TBD
  114. TBD
  115. TBD
  116. TBD
  117. TBD
  118. TBD
  119. TBD
  120. TBD
  121. TBD
  122. TBD
  123. TBD
  124. TBD
  125. TBD
  126. TBD
  127. TBD
  128. TBD
  129. TBD
  130. TBD
  131. TBD
  132. TBD
  133. TBD
  134. TBD
  135. TBD
  136. TBD
  137. TBD
  138. TBD
  139. TBD
  140. TBD
  141. TBD
  142. TBD
  143. TBD
  144. TBD
  145. TBD
  146. TBD
  147. TBD
  148. TBD
  149. TBD
  150. TBD
  151. TBD
  152. TBD
  153. TBD
  154. TBD
  155. TBD
  156. TBD
  157. TBD
  158. TBD
  159. TBD
  160. TBD
  161. TBD
  162. TBD
  163. TBD
  164. TBD
  165. TBD
  166. TBD
  167. TBD
  168. TBD
  169. TBD
  170. TBD
  171. TBD
  172. TBD

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