This scarce card
is one in a series of 24 cards issued in Canada by
the Cowan Confectionery Company of Stirling Road Toronto Ontario Canada.
One was inserted
into each package of their Cowan’s Mell-O-Milk, Royal Milk Chocolates and
Cowans Almond Nut Bar . They are listed as V2 in Burdick’s American Card Catalogue, they
are entitled “ANIMAL CARDS ”. Although no guide that I am aware of gives a
definite date of issue for this series it is generally assumed to have been in the 1920’s era. The
front of each card features a colorful image of the featured species with a cameo inset featuring Advertising
for the various Cowans Products. There
are actually three different variations of the front of the cards. One that features advertising for
“Mell-O-Milk Chocolate 5Cent & 10 Cent Size”, another with advertising for
“Almond Nut Bar 5 Cent and Ten Cent Size” and another variation that features
advertising for “Royal Milk and Mell-O-Milk Chocolates 5 Cent Cakes”. The
card does have the artist signature WRS on the card which is that of W. R.
Stark. This artist did many of the
Cowans card series illustrations as well as a few other Canadian Chocolate
companies card series. The back of the card
features a brief description of the species, as well as a premium offer from
the company. Customers could exchange a full series of the card numbered 1-24 complete they could mail them to Cowans in
exchange for a Large Animal Print. Because of this premium exchange offer from
the company, finding these cards is
tough. Most kids would have sent them
away for the print (what kid would turn down free stuff?) The
Card measures 5 ¼ inches by 2 1/4 inches approximately. This card is number 23 featuring a WEASEL with the ALMOND NUT BAR 5CENT & 10 CENT SIZE advertising front. The card does have some edge and corner wear, as well as a horizontal crease across the middle of the card. I have scanned the front
and back of the card fairly large so you can determine the condition for yourself. THESE
CARDS WERE NEVER ISSUED IN THE U.S. and are scarce. Due to the lower population in Canada than in
the US, print runs in Canada were much
smaller compared with American
Cards. (Because of this the majority of all Canadian non sports cards are far scarcer
than card issued in the USA and UK)
I will be trying to list several EARLY TRADE & TYPE
CARDS over the next few days (spread across different
categories), including one or two that are unrecorded in any guide, that
were put given away with Tobacco, Cigarettes , Caramel, Candy, Gum, Chocolate,
Bread Coffee Tea Cereal and other products, covering such diverse subjects as Native
American Indians , Baseball , Football, Boy Scouts, Ice Hockey, Golf,
Presidents of the United States, NCAA and IVY League Colleges and Universities,
Dog Breeds, Circus themes and many
more. To view the other cards I have up on ebay please click on the
“View Sellers other Items” Icon located on this page. It will take you directly
to them.
Due to my work schedule and distance to the
post office I am only able to ship Monday Mornings. If I haven’t received payment
for an item by Sunday evening, the item will have to wait until the
next Monday to go out. Its unfortunate but unavoidable.
If this doesn’t work for you I respectfully ask that you do not bid
or buy. Thanks again.
This will be mailed from the USA.
For USA purchases I Can combine shipping. Please message me for details.
Unfortunately Ebay’s Global Seller Program
does not allow for combined shipments on international order