Universal Cigarette Card Co. - (UNI-460) - Football Clubs & Badges (04) - New Research by David Fussell

1966

(UNI-460) - Football Clubs & Badges

Universal Cigarette Card Co. 

55 cards (8 football )

David Fussell has been carrying out some research into the Universal Cigarette Card Co. grey-backed cards.

The white-backed versions of these cards are now well-documented under various entries under the main Lamberts of Norwich pages. The grey-backed versions have generally been much less well documented here or via any other sources. While it was well known that there are several other grey-backed sets (Universal Cigarette Card Co. Ltd. [UCCC], Horsley’s Stores, Stamp Corner, Assembly House, plain grey back, larger triple panel/paired cards referring to the Ideal Home Exhibition), relatively little detail was known about them and often it was assumed that they comprised 25 cards each (as per Lamberts etc). This appears to be a false assumption. It seems quite clear that only 8 teams ever crop up. This website has previously identified those 8 teams as being Birmingham, Colchester United, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the case of Horsley’s Stores and Stamp Corner, but it now seems based on empirical evidence that this must equally apply to all the other grey-backed ones. There is simply no evidence of any grey-backed cards regarding the other 17 teams - but readers are invited to provide evidence to the contrary! References in the British Trade Index (BTI) at least partially support this theory.

But rather than basing this idea simply on a lack of other evidence, further research into how and why the grey-backed sets came about also lends support to this theory, although it is acknowledged that without access to the production records, for example, definitively proving something never existed will remain elusive.

Larger Pairs/Triples referring to Ideal Home Exhibition

The biggest clue to unlocking the grey-backed cards rests with those cards issued by UCCC as triples (paired cards from two different series with a third panel advertising empty cigarette card albums for sale). The back is more significant though. It invites you to “Start collecting picture cards now!!!” (a not unreasonable claim for such a company) and also to visit them at their stand at the Ideal Home Exhibition. What on earth was a mere cigarette card dealer doing exhibiting at such a renowned national and international exhibition? But look further and you will notice that it goes on to state that “We Design, Print and supply cards of all types, as a sale incentive for your products, to your individual requirements.”

Now it starts to make sense. In parallel, various references in the BTI state that there were a number of abbreviated sets (including non-football) issued, for example under Horsley’s Stores and Stamp Corner. Whereas there would typically be around 25 cards in these original sets from what he can gather, the number of cards in each abbreviated set was limited to between 8 and 10. Horsley’s issued 12 abbreviated sets in total to include obviously our football set and others such as Government Buildings, Into Space, Fruits and Berries, Cacti and Products of the World. These same 12 sets are repeated for the Stamp Corner according to the BTI. It seems that these were all produced by UCCC.

In total it appears there were 110 single card designs issued by UCCC under various printings with the football ones limited to those usual 8 teams. David has been assisted in his research by Peter (trading as peterwendy or Peter Pan Cards and Books on eBay). He has a collection of the UCCC pairs/triples (mainly non-football) and believes there are just 55 of those types available. In other words, each card from the 110 was only paired once and again, the empirical evidence supports this. Between them, they have now provided the final 4 images of the football team pairings. The list of such pairs is therefore:

•  Nottingham Forest (left) paired with a card from the Parliament/Government Buildings set

•  Preston North End (left) paired with a card from the Parliament/Government Buildings set

•  Colchester United (left) paired with a card from the Into Space set

•  Birmingham (centre) paired with a card from the Fruits and Berries set

•  Ipswich Town (left) paired with a card from the Cacti set

•  Portsmouth (centre) paired with a card from the Products of the World set

•  Wolverhampton Wanderers (left) paired with a card from the Parliament/Government Buildings set

•  Leeds United (centre) paired with a card from the Products of the World set

It is just possible that the names of the paired sets may be incorrect but they are all taken from the relevant BTI pages for Horsley’s Stores and Stamp Corner. Unusually it seems that the backs of these pairs/triples are all inverted when turned over, e.g. when placed in a clear sleeve in an album the back is upside down when you turn the page.

The backs of these pairs/triples confirm that UCCC was exhibiting at the Ideal Home Exhibition (IHE) which was taking place from March 1st to March 26th. The year is not stated. However, a look into the history of the IHE confirms that the exhibition only ran over these 2 sets of dates (exactly) in 1960 and 1966. 1960 seems too early as the white back/blue text versions were still being issued and 1966 fits better with what is known about the grey backs. The BTI state that the Horsley’s Stores cards were issued in 1968 and that they were issuing other 25 card sets in 1968 (Murray’s). Very briefly returning to a set from the white-backed cards, if the IHE was indeed 1966 then the date of c1965 for the A.C.W. Francis set does seem most likely, rather than the other possible suggestion of 1967.

Universal Cigarette Card Co. “Wanted for our public auctions ….”

UCCC also issued single grey backed cards. The back stated that they wanted early cigarette and trade cards for their public auctions. No other clues as to date other than an address and telephone number which may narrow down the window but this has not been looked into. It is suggested that the date of this set is c1966 onwards.

Assembly House

Those cards previously referred to as Assembly House are also issued by UCCC. There is now an image of the rear of this type of card, although the image provided did not come from one of the football cards. It does confirm that it was UCCC which issued the cards for the purpose of promoting a cigarette cards (and other trades) exhibition at Assembly House, Norwich on July 14th-15th 1972.

Stamp Corner

The Stamp Corner was a small shop in Doncaster selling cigarette cards, coins, medals and stamps etc. The backs of their cards also stated that if you could collect 25 of them you could exchange them for a complete set of (cheap) cards, suggesting that they were somehow distributed in some abundance. This suggests that they could not have afforded or would have been willing to pay much for the rights to have these cards produced. This ties in with the idea that they were produced by UCCC simply as a way of promoting the company and its products, rather than as a true collectible.

Following additional information recently provided by John Levitt in July 2026 a little more is now known about the Stamp Corner cards. Essentially there are 3 known printed variants to the backs (2 different addresses and some quote “1/-“ and others “5p”). He has also provided images of 2 hand stamped backs versions, although these have not been confirmed as existing with the football fronts. Peter has a vague recollection of the stamped version of the cards but, again, is not able to confirm whether there were any football ones.

The BTI also states that the Stamp Corner cards were issued simply in the 1960s, but taking everything into account, it is suggested circa 1968 onwards (possibly a little earlier) seems more likely, firstly, given they used the same designs as Horsley’s and secondly, based on details of the backs of the cards which suggested they were issued in the period before, and then the period just after, decimalisation in 1971.

There are potentially 5 known versions then. Although some versions have not been confirmed in the football format, it seems there are:

•  Rubber stamped back, “1/- set” say circa 1968 - unconfirmed

•  Printed with 23 Bowers Fold, “1/- set” say circa 1969/70 – confirmed via BTI

•  Printed with 23 Bowers Fold, “5p set” say 1971 onwards – confirmed for Birmingham & Wolverhampton Wanderers

•  Printed with 27 Scot Lane, “5p set” say c1972 onwards – confirmed for Leeds United

•  Rubber stamped back, “10p discount” say 1971 onwards – unconfirmed

Horsley’s Stores

Horsley’s Stores sold fashionwear, school uniforms, carpets and furniture and all from a single store in Gainsborough. The rear of their cards merely promoted this store and its products. Again, it seems that they could not have afforded or would have been willing to pay much for the rights to have these cards produced. So this once again ties in with the idea that they were produced by UCCC simply as a way of promoting the company and its products, rather than as a true collectible.

Plain Grey-Back version

Clearly, given all the evidence, this must have been produced by UCCC. There is no real date evidence but it could be anytime from perhaps 1966 onwards.

All Grey-Backed Versions:

•  Stamp Corner (5? Versions) c1968-1972

•  Horsley’s Stores 1968

•  UCCC “Wanted for our public auctions …” c1966 onwards

•  UCCC “Assembly House” 1972

•  UCCC plain grey back c1966 onwards

•  UCCC pairs/triples 1966

So that is a possible 15 versions in total, including the white back ones, for those 8 teams.

Footnote:

It is interesting to note that both Horsley’s Stores of Gainsborough and Stamp Corner of Doncaster are, amazingly, both still trading. David has spoken to Horsleys, a family run business dating back to 1902 (the website proudly tells how they fitted the flooring at Gainsborough Trinity FC a few years ago). Horsleys were aware of the cards and say customers still occasionally bring the odd one into them but were unable to confirm any other details (it was 58 years ago).

He has also spoken to Stamp Corner. They are also a family run business dating back nearly 100 years but the current family only took over around the millennium. They said that they understood the cards were given out in the shop with each purchase. Unfortunately, they were unable to trace any stock of these cards.