Bystander Fragments deck Goodall 1916.
Captain Charles Bruce Bairnsfather (1887 – 1959) was best-known for his cartoon character"Old Bill". Bill and his pals Bert and Alf featured in Bairnsfather's "Fragments from France" cartoons published weekly in "The Bystander" magazine during the First World War. The cartoons were first published on the backs of playing cards by C Goodall in 1916, beginning with four packs, each with a different cartoon.
“Keeping His Hand In.” “Well, if you knows of a better 'ole, go to it!”
“Coiffure in the Trenches” and “The Eternal Question”
In August 1917 the Bystander magazine announced that the first four packs had completely sold out, and were only available through booksellers and newsagents stock - adding that these sets would not be reprinted. The same cartoon and drawing on the special Ace of Spades cards, 'Gott Strafe this barbed wire.” Was used in every pack. Of which, by 1918, there were about a dozen.
This deck is complete, in lovely, barely used, condition and consists of 52 + 3 cards. The original box is also in wonderful condition. Very difficult to find this pack, complete and in such fantastic condition, with probably the most famous of all Bairnsfather’s cartoons, from the first series, no longer in print, Postage incl for UK only