In the run-up to the 1960 Rome
Olympics, cards from a set of fifty Olympic Achievements began appearing in
packets of Comet sweet cigarettes. The first few gave a history of the games
whilst the rest concentrated on the many find performances at the two previous
Olympics, among them the dramatic moment in the 1952 5,000 metres race when
Chris Chataway tripped just yards from the finish allowing Emil Zatopek to
snatch the gold. We also see Chris Brasher of Great Britain in action during
the 3,000 metres steeplechase at Melbourne where he established a new Olympic
record, and the finish of the 1956 800 metres when Tom Courtney of the U.S.A.
just beat Britain’s D. Johnson - and the first four all beat the previous
Olympic record. There is also a tribute card for Jesse Owens of the U.S.A.,
probably the greatest all-round athlete of modern times, who in 1935 set six
world records in the space of 45 minutes, and captured four gold medals at
Berlin in 1936. Great sporting achievements indeed, and the colour pictures are
backed by excellent descriptive text. Interestingly the series was issued in
two halves resulting in the rather peculiar heading “A set of 50,
2nd Series, Nos. 26-50”. Also, as can be guessed from the
Slough address shown at base, Comet Sweets (and Cadet Sweets) were a division
of Paramount Laboratories.
This
set of Comet 50 Olympic Achievements 1959 in Finest Collectable Condition is
catalogued at £30.00. |
