The Origins of Cigarette Cards The history of cigarette cards dates back to the late 19th century when the popularity of cigarette smoking began to rise. Initially, cigarettes were sold in plain packages without any additional promotional materials. However, in an effort to boost sales and attract customers, tobacco companiesRead More →
The Life of Agatha Christie Agatha Christie was born on September 15, 1890, in Torquay, a seaside town in Devon, England. Her father was an American businessman and her mother was English. She had an older sister and a brother. Agatha was educated at home by her mother and wasRead More →
Invention of Super 8 Film Super 8 film was invented by Eastman Kodak in 1965 as an improvement to the existing 8mm film format. It featured smaller sprocket holes, which allowed for a larger image area, and a cartridge system that simplified loading and unloading the film. Super 8 filmRead More →
The Creation of Thomas the Tank Engine Thomas the Tank Engine was created by Reverend Wilbert Awdry, an Anglican clergyman, in the 1940s. Awdry began writing stories about trains to entertain his son Christopher, who was sick in bed with the measles. The first book in the series, “The ThreeRead More →
Origins of Stamps The first adhesive postage stamp was the Penny Black, introduced in the United Kingdom in 1840. This invention revolutionized the postal system by allowing postage to be prepaid by the sender rather than the recipient. Prior to the Penny Black, the cost of postage was paid byRead More →
Understanding Light and Shadows The key to creating striking black and white photos lies in how you control and manipulate light. In black and white photography, there are no colours to distract from the interplay of light and shadows. To achieve a high-contrast image, you’ll need to understand how lightRead More →
Origins and Early Years Bovril is a meat extract that was first developed by Scottish entrepreneur John Lawson Johnston in the late 19th century. He created the product as a means of providing a concentrated, nutritious food for soldiers in the British army. The name “Bovril” is a combination ofRead More →
Introduction For Centuries books have been a source of information and imagination. There are some well known authors across the genres who have produced works in the non-fiction and fiction areas. It wasn’t until I started the Wildcard Curiosities business, that I realised how frequent I come across books. FromRead More →
Customer Feedback This year we have seen our client base grow. From students, collectors, customers overseas and trade with antique dealers this year has been busy all year round. What makes it all worth while is the feedback we receive. We trade face to face and online via Ebay. HereRead More →
Introduction Looking back at previous blogs and social media activity for Wildcard Curiosities. I refer to Gareth Norman Makes who is a local artist and restorer. I decided to do this blog to provide more of an insight into who Gareth is and what he does. I hope to createRead More →