Based on childhood recollections
of early 1900s London
Most children made collections of things that they would keep in a box or
a book of some sort. Where I lived on the
Huxley Estate in Edmonton, none of
these collections ever cost us children anything because we didn't have any
money to speak of. We collected things that were free, that were cast-offs or
could be picked up around the countryside, like conkers and coloured stones.
I once won a prize at school for a wild flower
collection.
Collecting cigarette cards
Early 1900s
cigarette packets Players Navy Cut, Craven
A and Woodbine.
A firm favourite for collecting was
cigarette cards. Cigarette manufacturers,
notably Players and Wills put a card in each packet of their cigarettes showing
a picture on one side and descriptive information on the other side.
Smoking was common among the men, so it wasn't difficult for children to
find someone to save cigarette cards for them. Often, though, the same cigarette
card would keep appearing whereas some hardly ever seemed to. This led
to swapping of cards which was another spirited and enjoyable activity for children.
Special albums for the collection could be bought from
tobacconists for a
penny. Filled ones have become collectors' items.
Cigarette cards were produced in themes such as trains, flowers, sportsmen,
etc. Children would aim to collect a complete set
on a particular theme so that they could complete an album.
Sample of a cigarette card album - front cover.
Photographed in The West Somerset Rural Life Museum.
Click the thumbnail for a larger image.
|
Sample of a cigarette card album - double page
spread inside. Photographed in
The West Somerset Rural Life Museum.
Click the thumbnail for a larger image.
|
On the back of the cigarette cards was information about the topic
illustrated on the front. This was usually very informative and it was
repeated in the album close to the space for the card - see the large images
of the information
on a separate page.
Collecting postage stamps
Other favourites for collecting were postage stamps. It was common practice
to waylay anyone who received a letter or parcel, particularly if it was from
overseas, to request the postage stamp.
The stamp was carefully torn round with its backing paper still attached
and then soaked in water to dissolve the glue. The paper backing then just floated
off the stamp. The stamp was allowed to dry and then stuck into a special book
or album with a a small, transparent piece of paper coated with a mild gum.
This was called a stamp hinge.
Children were often very proud of their stamp albums and would spend hours
looking at them with other children and swapping duplicates. Whenever family
or friends received a letter from overseas, they were always instructed to keep
the stamp for someone or other.
Collecting bible stamps
Not unlike cigarette cards, from a collector's point of view, were Sunday
School stamps on biblical themes - see Sunday
Schools.
Collecting marbles
Marble collections were also common because boys played them outside with
other boys as streetgames.
This website Join me in the 1900s is a contribution to the social history of everyday life in early to mid 20th century Britain, seen through personal recollections and illustrations, with the emphasis on what it was like to live in those times. It is © Pat Cryer.
