1921 - The earliest Cricket Redemption Card?

There has always been a misconception that Redemption cards are a 'modern' phenomenon but in Australian issues they can be traced back to 1921 when McIntyre Bros (Chocolates) produced their magnificent Tartan Cricket Issues. There are also two series of VFL cards as well as Actors & Actresses, with the 2ns Series VFL Cards bringing huge $ in VG+ Condition.

The Cricket series numbered 15 with a redemption of an extra large card of the series Captain; Warwick Armstrong being issued to collectors who brought the entire 15 cards back into their place of purchase.

Only one of these has been seen in the flesh with a number of colour copies of the same card being created, laminated and sold by a one time owner.

I've uploaded the Armstrong card and the front/back of the Redemption Card (Almost A4 in size) - a fantastic addition to any collection of these very good looking cards.

Has anyone seen another?

I have seen that tartan set but this is the first i have heard of the redemption card.

So just to be clear - if you collected to 15 Cricketers from this set you could taken them all to where you bought them to get this card - which is A4 size?

ooneil said:

I have seen that tartan set but this is the first i have heard of the redemption card.

So just to be clear - if you collected to 15 Cricketers from this set you could taken them all to where you bought them to get this card - which is A4 size?

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Yes - That's correct - presumably the Shopkeeper sent off the 15 cards to McIntyre Bros. who then in turn sent the Redemption Card out with the 15 cards returned. Some of the 15 cards are either crossed out, 'Cancelled' on the back, or signed across the back with the Shopkeepers name. I presume this would have ensured that the same issues weren't redeemed twice. I've got the 15 cards from the series (and a laminated copy of the Redemption) and a couple of them have the crossed out reverse, plus a while ago a member of the Australian Cartophilic Society found in a 1921 newspaper the Advert for the process that accompanied collecting them all - an attractive set but still would be great to sight another Redemption Card

Very interesting - thanks for posting.

Do you have a copy of the advert at all??

ooneil said:

Very interesting - thanks for posting.

Do you have a copy of the advert at all??

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From the Australian issue of PALS Magazine - November 26th, 1921 (Its a bad scanned copy of the photocopy of the advert) but the process is clearly spelled out

Those guys cartophilic guys are committed! That must ad have taken forever to find.