Danmark Trade Cards

The main rivals to Rich’s within both the market for Coffee Substitute and the issue of Danish Trade Cards were Danmark’s. The company produced a comparably modest 38 series (compared to the 62 by Rich’s) and, with a few exceptions, their cards and albums are more difficult to find than those of Rich's.

Danmark’s began issuing sets in 1925 as a direct response to those produced by Rich’s. However, unlike Rich’s, there was not a "standard" size to the cards as there was a small variation in the dimensions of each series. Many of the early series employed differing and quite novel artwork which was in marked contrast to the more realistic style of the Rich’ cards. Few of the pre-album series have survived in great numbers with, perhaps, the unrepresentative "Signaler" series being those most commonly found in Britain.

During 1932 Danmark’s once again followed the lead provided by Rich’s and began to produce album series. The first of these ("Danmark’s Born") was typical of their independent outlook but may not have proved popular with the public. Certainly both the album and cards from this series are rarely seen these days.

In an attempt to regain lost ground, Danmark’s then turned to Germany for their next few productions with "Guld-Films-Billeder" and "Flag Serie" being almost straight copies of their German equivalents. Just before the outbreak of the Second World War the company issued a set of 98 black & white photographic cards of animals. No album was issued and the cards themselves are quite rare.

Album production after the war continued up until the mid 1960s and, where Rich’s had Disney, Danmark’s focussed on cards featuring Bonzo and Lawson Wood designs. Three such albums were issued (in 1938, 1951 and 1963) each containing a mixture of original images and ones previously issued in the German "Lustige Bilder" series.

In similar fashion to Rich’s, the final Danmark’s series produced in 1969 ("Danske Fugle") featured Birds and did not have an album to accompany it. However, a poster was issued by the company on which to display the cards. Very few specimens of this poster have survived through to the present day.

DANMARK’S – CHECKLIST OF SETS & ALBUMS ISSUED

 Ref No

Danish Title

Subject

Year

Album Issued

Cards in Set

1

H C Andersens Eventyr

Hans Christian Andersens Advertures

1925

N

25

2

Skibs Serie

Ships

1925

N

12

3

Humoristiske Dyr

Humorous Animals

1926

N

12

4

Forskellige Nationer

National Costumes

1926

N

30

5

Brandserie

Firemen

1926

N

36

6

Borneserie

Children

1926

N

36

7

Ordsprog

Sayings & Catchphrases

?

N

30

8

Kobenhavnske Gadebilleder

Copenhagen Street Scenes

1927

N

24

9

Krigen 1848-50

Warfare

?

N

24

10

Kaptajn Botved Flyvertogt til Osten

Captain Botved's Flight to the Far East

?

N

30

11

Oceanflyvere

Transatlantic Fliers & Aircraft

?

N

30

12

Verdens Faerdelspoliti

Traffic Policemen of the World

?

N

30

13

International Signaler

I - Flags & Signals of the World

?

N

27

14

Signaler

Signs & Signals etc. Subsets for:-

II - Storm warnings (5)

III - Miscellaneous (7)

IV - Bouys (7)

V - Motoring (11)

?

N

30

15

Automobil Serie

Cars

?

N

30

16

Flagserie

Flags

1930

N

30

17

Skiftende Moder

Changing Fashions

1930

N

30

18

Symboler

Symbols

?

N

30

19

Klokkeslaet Jorden over

Time around the World

?

N

30

20

Danmarks Born

Children of Denmark

1932

Y

120

21

Guld-Films-Billeder

Golden Film-Stars Album

1933

Y

180

22

Flag-Serie

Flags

1934

Y

180

23

Af Verdens Billedbog

World Picture Book

1935

Y

180

24

Films-Serie II

Film Stars II

1936

Y

200

25

Godt Humor

Humour: Bonzo & Lawson Wood

1938

Y

200

26

Dyrenes Parade

Animal Parade

?

N

98

27

Sejrens Vaaben

Weapons of Victory

1945

Y

50

28

Dyr fra alle Lande

Animals of the World

1946

Y

200

29

Films-serie

Film Stars (different)

1949

Y

200

30

Godt Humor II

Humour II: Bonzo & Lawson Wood

1951

Y

200

31

Dyrefabler

Animal Fables

1953

Y

200

32

Dyr I Naturen

Animals in Nature

1955

Y

200

33

Fra Fuglenes Verdens

From the World of Birds

1957

Y

200

34

Vore Husdyr

Domestic & Farm Animals

1959

Y

200

35

Danmark I billeder

Denmark in Pictures

1961

Y

200

36

Hojt Humor

Splendid Humour: Bonzo & Lawson Wood

1963

Y

200

37

En tur I Zoologisk Have

Tour of the Zoo

1966

Y

120

38

Danske Fugle

Danish Birds

1969

N

52

 

Home Page - Danish Cards Main Page - Danish Cigarette Cards - Rich's Trade Cards