Batman 1966 UK “Black Bat” Trading Card display box

Only a brief SuperStuff post this time around, but one which might give you a chance to re-live those days of seeing Batman trading cards for sale in your local tobacconist/newsagent.

Back in 1966 I bought my first pack of Batman trading cards - the “Black Bat” set - from a sweet shop (candy store) called The Cabin in Highland Rd, Southsea. The first card in the set was “The Riddler”, and I was hooked. I would go back to that sweetshop on a weekly basis along with my Dad, who used to stop by to buy 4oz of Needlers fruit pastilles, a particular favourite of his.  Each visit I experienced the thrill of seeing the cardboard box in which unopened wax packets of Batman cards lay.  Eventually, I asked the man who ran the shop if I could have the display box when all of the cards had been sold, and he kindly put it by for me.

I then used that box to store all of my Batman cards, as I collected the series of cards, and the four subsequent sets that quickly followed.

I kept that box until 1983, when I sold it (along with a number of other unique collectibles) to the Timeslip shop in Fawcett Rd, as I was amassing funds for a deposit on my first flat.

I’ve seen that box up for sale on eBay for £400 recently - and I’m convinced that it was my actual display box up for sale as it had a slight tear in the lid - and regretted selling it for £1 in 1983.

However, all of that regret is now swept aside as I’ve printed my own version of the box which looks just as good as the original, thanks to information in an article by Jeff & Bob Marks provided is issue #86 of Non-Sports card fanzine “The Wrapper” from October 1986.

© Les Davis, editor of "The Wrapper"

By using the image featured in The Wrapper, I was able to locate original colour images of the elements on the box, and create my own box! It now has pride of place on the shelf next to my desk.

I’ve included the image below should you wish to print your own box on photo card.

The dimensions of the box when completed measure 3 3/8” x 7 1/8” x 2”, so you’ll have to figure out how to print at the correct scale. (Remember this display box was designed to accommodate the UK A&BC versions of the  cards, slightly smaller than the Topps versions.)

© Les Davis. The Wrapper #86

Click to enbiggen

If I have the time and enthusiasm , I may have a go a printing a version with a base and a folding lid, but for now, this satisfies me.

If you have more than a passing interest in Non-Sports trading cards, The Wrapper is still being published. Take a look at The Wrapper website.