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Baines Cards...............
This is my collection of rugby related Baines and Trade cards from the early part of the 1900's. These cards are now very difficult to acquire but are turning up all over the world as odd collection come on the market. Originating in the North of England in 1887 the cards where produced by John Baines of Manningham as collectors cards for boys with the mainstay being Rugby, Football (Soccer) and Cricket. Sold in packets of 6 to card crazy schoolboys, Baines offered prizes to the person who returned the most cards to his North Parade offices in Bradford.
Linked to his business in Bradford these cards carried adverts for Hotels and other businesses in the north. They where also copied by many other trades including Sharpe's, Pears and the many tobacco and cigarette companies all over the world. Subjects covered included Northern Union Rugby, Rugby Union, Golf, Cricket and the touring teams of the time including the All Blacks.
The cards below are from my limited collection there are many more, as yet I have not seen a catalogue with details of all the cards produced by John Baines. I have also included a number of other similar trade cards from the period.
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| Baines - Devon Albion | Baines - "Who's Ball is it" | Baines - Swinton | Baines - Halifax play up - Mr Rigg | Baines - Play up west Riding |
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| Baines- West Riding - "Looking for a pass" - T. Broadley | Baines - Play up Halifax - F. Firth | Baines - West Riding - T. Broadley | Pears Soap - "Play Up England" Jowett but still a Baines card | Baines - Well Played - Newport |
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| Baines - Surrey - J. E. Rapheal | Baines - Hurrah - Scotland for ever | Baines - Cardiff | Baines - Ebbw Vale | Baines - Swansea |
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| Baines - The Flower of Yorkshire - A. Ward | Blank back - "Line Out" Tonge | Sharpe's - Well run Fettesian Lorrettonians | Baines - Barnstaple | Baines - Halifax - "Now we shan't be long" |
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| Baines - Batley | Baines - Edinburgh University - "Rin ye Sassenach" | Baines - Scotland | Baines - Ovalball - Well tacked Dublin University | Baines - Ovalball - Play up Edinburgh |
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| Baines card back gold medal football card | Back pears' soap card | Baines back - "GEM" card | Back Sharpe's football card | Baines - by Royal accent has the Queen a set of these cards? |
Click on each picture for a larger image.
A few odd links to other Baines card sites but there is very little information on the web if you know of more please tell me......