Rich’s Trade Cards

Although the actual date of issue of the first Rich’s series is unknown it was likely to have been produced during 1924 or 1925. The early cards were glued to the outside of the packets and, as many families had their groceries delivered, they would frequently "disappear" during their short journey from the shop to the customer’s home. The first 3 series produced all shared the size of 80mm x 44mm and few specimens have survived through to the present day. This is particularly true of the first Militaerserie which were cut-outs.

The next group of sets adopted the smaller size of 72mm x 38mm and, during this period, the cards were repositioned inside the packaging (but nevertheless still glued to the wrapping). Image & print quality remained high during this period. The last such series (Unusual Buildings) is among the more common sets found in the UK.

As the end of 1925 approached a further change saw the introduction of a still smaller card (63mm x 36mm) which remained the standard format until the arrival of album series in 1930. A few series from this period are regularly found in Britain whilst others, such as "Kinesiske Fugle" (Chinese Birds), "Jamboree" (Scouts), "Zoologiske Sjaeldenheder" (Strange & Prehistoric Animals), "Post-Serie" and the unissued "Akvariefisk" (Aquarium Fish) are particularly rare.

The early albums were based on the format adopted in Germany at that time and, indeed, the very first such series ("Nordens Fugleverden") was a copy of the equivalent German series. Rich’s produced a total of 18 albums in the period ending in 1964 with many (in the late 1940s-early 1960s) featuring Walt Disney characters. Sandwiched in the middle of the album period (in 1937) the company produced a singleton card of King Christian X.

The ever-increasing costs of producing & issuing albums was beginning to take its toll and 1968 saw the issue of a set of 80 loose cards (Flowers). This was followed 4 years later by a similar set of Birds after which card production ceased entirely.

RICH’S – CHECKLIST OF SETS & ALBUMS ISSUED

 

Danish Title

Subject

Year

Album

Cards

1

Militaerserie (80x44mm)

Military Types (Cut-outs)

?

N

12

2

Prospektserie (80x44mm)

Scenes of Buildings

?

N

12

3

Sportserie (80x44mm)

Sports

?

N

15

4

Gadefigur-Serie

Street Traders/Occupations

?

N

12

5

Haandvaerker-Serie

Craftsmen

?

N

12

6

Militaer-Serie

Military Types

?

N

12

7

Tivoli-Serie

People & Roles at Tivoli

1925

N

12

8

Prospekt-Serie

Scenes of Buildings

1925

N

12

9

Sport-Serie

Sports

1925

N

15

10

Ejendommelige Bygninger

Unusual Buildings

1926

N

50

11

Kinesiske Fugle

Chinese Birds

?

N

50

12

Luftsejlads

History of Aviation

1925

N

52

13

Sommerfugle-Serie

Butterflies & Moths

1926

N

50

14

Kina-Serie I

China I - Scenes of People

1926

N

48

15

Kina-Serie II

China II - Famous Men

?

N

50

16

Hovedbrud

Brainteasers

1927

N

50

17

Opfinder-Serie

Inventors & Inventions

1927

N

24

18

Cirkus-Serie

Circus

1926

N

20

19

Folkeslag-Serie

Peoples of Nations

1927

N

20

20

Faerdselsmidler

History of Transport

1927

N

20

21

Jagt-Serie

Hunting

1926

N

16

22

Skole-Serie

School

?

N

24

23

Gronlands-Serie

Greenland

1926

N

20

24

Beromte Sportsfolk

Famous Sports Personalities

?

N

25

25

Experimenter

Tricks & Experiments

1927

N

18

26

Frimaerke-Serie

Stamps & Postal Scenes

?

N

25

27

Zoologiske Puslespil

Zoological Puzzles (Match the Head & Body Game)

1928

N

25

28

Danske Sohelte

Danish Seafarers & Vessels

?

N

25

29

Fra det gamle Kobenhavn

Scenes from Old Copenhagen

?

N

25

30

Danske Oldsagsfund

Danish Archeological Treasures

?

N

25

31

Riddertiden

Medieval Knights

?

N

25

32

Roms Glansperiode

Glory of the Roman Empire

?

N

25

33

Sejlskibs-Serie

Sailing Ships

?

N

25

34

Thorvaldsen-Serie

Thorvaldsen Museum

?

N

25

35

Kobenhavn

Buildings in Copenhagen

?

N

25

36

Europas Hovedstaeder

European Capitols

?

N

26

37

Jamboree

Scouts & Scouting

?

N

25

38

Zoologiske Sjaeldenheder

Strange Animals

?

N

25

39

Rosenborg-Serie

Rosenborg Castle

1930

N

50

40

Post-Serie

Mail Systems

?

N

25

41

Akvariefisk

Aquarium Fish (**unissued)

?

N

16

42

Nordens Fugleverden

Northern European Birds

1930

Y

172

43

Af Dyrenes Verden: Pattedyr

World of Animals - Mammals

1931

Y

180

44

Danske Husdyr

Domestic & Farm Animals

1932

Y

162

45

Fra Mark og Skov

From Field and Woods

1934

Y

162

46

Ud I vort skonne Land

Our Beautiful Country

1935

Y

189

47

Paa Rejse med Rich's

Travelling with Rich's

1936

Y

210

48

Billede af King Christian X

Painting of King Christian X

1937

N

1

49

Jorden rundt med Rich's

Around the World with Rich's

1938

Y

210

50

Vort flittige folk

Our Hardworking People

1939

Y

210

51

Fritidens Glaeder

Joy of Sport & Leisure

1943

Y

210

52

50 Aars Idraets-Kavalkade

50 Years of Sport Cavalcade

1947

Y

98

53

Eventyret om Pinocchio

Adventures of Pinocchio (Disney)

1949

Y

196

54

Eventyret om Askepot

Adventures of Cinderella (Disney)

1951

Y

196

55

Walt Disney's Peter Pan

Peter Pan (Disney)

1953

Y

196

56

Lady og Vagabonden, Bambi, Dumbo

Lady & the Tramp, Bambi & Dumbo (Disney)

1956

Y

196

57

Fra naturens hverdag

From the Natural World

1958

Y

196

58

Walt Disney's Tornerose

Sleeping Beauty (Disney)

1960

Y

196

59

Billeder af Vort Lands Historie

History of our Land

1962

Y

196

60

For og nu, vort folk i 100 ar

100 Years of our People

1964

Y

196

61

Blomsterserie

Flowers

1968

N

80

62

Fugleserie

Birds

1972

N

80

 

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