| Dating from just before the war,
our set for October is two-thirds of a century old and the world is
not the same place today. The cards show the products of many
countries from small islands to large dominions, in colour pictures,
together with the countries’ arms. A description occupies the right
hand third. The choice of “industries” is revealing because nearly
all, except those of the UK, are non-manufacturing – the exploitation
of raw materials or the growing of crops. The Empire was then at its
peak, with Great Britain as its governing and manufacturing hub. The
dominant position held by Britain can be gauged by the facts quoted,
such as British yards had under construction 32.6% of the world’s
total ship-building tonnage, and 70,000 people were employed in linen
manufacture in Northern Ireland. Another aspect of being 68 years old
can be discovered on the card backs – offers of a tennis racket for
7/6 (37p) or four golf balls for 3/2 (16p). Oh! How times have
changed!
This set of L25 Important Industries of The British Empire 1938 issued
by Typhoo in very good/finest collectible condition is catalogued at
£12.50.
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