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The beginning of the 20th century was an exciting time in the history of mankind. Many new inventions and discoveries were coming into fruition and some parts of the planet still remained unexplored. Books and periodicals of the time cultivated a desire for adventure. To the average person, foreign countries were probably like other planets and wild animals resembled alien creatures. It is hardly surprising that sets of cigarette cards depicting wild animals were extremely popular and fuelled the young adventurer's imagination.
It would be impractical to list every wild animal card set issued and so I've listed small selection of the more unusual and rare card sets that I've come across in my six years of dealing on eBay. I've provided scans of a sample card from each set and tried to include all card titles.
Name Of Set: Wild Animals Of The World (Star, Cirlce and Leaves)
Manufacturer: WD and HO Wills
Issue Year: 1906
Card Number: 50
Card Titles: Alligator, Alpaca, Armodillo, Bactrian Camel, Badger,Beaver, Big Horn, Bison, Black Panther, Chamois, Cheeta, Crocodile, Dingo, Elephant, Fallow Deer, Flying Squirrel, Giraffe, Gnu of South Africa, Gorilla, Great Ant Eater, Grizzly Bear, Hippopotamus, Hyena, Ibex, Indian Humped Bull, Indian Rhinoceros, Jaguar, Jerboa, Kangaroo, Kudu Antelope, Leopard, Lion,Llama, Lynx, Mongoose and Cobra, Ocelor, Polar Bear, Porcupine, Puma, Reindeer, Racoon, Sable, Sea Lion, Skunk, and Tasmanian Devil.
Name Of Set: Wild Animals of The World (Wide) (With Ltd)
Manufacturer: John Player and Sons
Issue Year: 1901
Card Number: 50
Card Titles: Elephant, Dingo, Ibex, Wolf, Polar Bear, Llama, Great Anteater, Jerboa,Kudu Antelope, Big Horn, Puma, Skunk, Armadillo, Giraffe, Gorilla, Wild Boar Indian, Alpaca, Dorcas Gazelle, Lion,Gnu of South Africa, Grizzly Bear, Ocelot, White Yak, Alligator, Porcupine, Kangaroo, Mongoose and Cobra, Reindeer, Zebra, Cheeta, Sea Lion, Lynx, Bactrian Camel, Badger, Jaguar, Crocodile, Indian Rhinoceros, Beaver, Hippopotamus, Sable, Chamois, Hyena, Bison, Tiger, Flying Squirrel, Black Panther, Tasmanian Devil, Leopard, Indian Humped Bull, and Racoon.
Card Titles: Embarking, The Look Out A, The Look Out B, The Harpooner, The Whale Boat, Lancing,Towing In, Cutting In, The Try Pots, A Sperm Whale, The Right Whale, A School of Whales, Sharks Around a Dead Whale, Trying Out, Gamming, Breaching, Stoved, A Harpoon Gun, Whaling Tools, The True Love, The Diana, The Kathleen, The Harpooner, Modern Steam Whale Catcher, and Modern Whaling Ship.
Name Of Set: Game Hunting S438
Manufacturer: Liebig Extract of Meat Co
Issue Year: 1895
Card Number: 6
Card Titles: -
Name Of Set: The Elephant And The Soap Bubbles S553
Manufacturer: Liebig Extract of Meat Co
Issue Year: 1898
Card Number: 6
Card Titles: -
Name Of Set: Hunted Animals
Manufacturer: Planters Nut & Chocolate Company
Issue Year: 1933
Card Number: 25
Card Titles: Zebra, Grizzly Bear, American Buffalo, Wapiti Deer, Orang-Utan,Wild Boar, Polar Bear, Alligator, Hippopotamus, Musk Ox, Kangaroo, Hyaena, Gorilla, Lion, Puma, Giraffe, Tiger, African Elephant, Elk, Moose, Mountain Sheep, Reindeer, Cape or Black African Buffalo, Leopard, and Rhinoceros.
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