A&BC Chewing Gum Ltd. - 1970/71 Footballer (Orange backs) wrappers

The A&BC Chewing Gum Footballer set issued in late 1970, commonly known as Orange backs, along with the 1969/70 Green backs represent a culmination for A&BC as they produced high quality cards in three series with a brilliant range of 'extras' included with the cards and the gum. Series 1, issued to coincide with the beginning of the 1970/71 football season, included the popular pin-up posters carefully folded in each packet. The packet cost 6d, for which you got 6 'giant' cards, plus the pin-up poster. When Series 2 was issued the posters were replaced by the 'Action transfer'. Series 3 included 'new' action transfers. The transfers, nowadays often referred to as 'transparencies' came in a set of 72, so perhaps the first 36 were issued with Series 2 and the second 36 with Series 3. The Series 3 wrapper has the price in both pre-decimal (6d) and post-decimal. Apparently in the period leading up to 'Decimal Day' (15 February 1971) prices on goods were displayed in this way, and then after Decimal Day the post-decimal price had to be displayed first (e.g. 2½p / 6d) suggesting that Series 3 was issued in very late 1970 or January 1971.

The Footballer bubble gum packs included a cross-promotion with Topp's Bazooka Joe bubble gum. Each wrapper included a 'special offer' to purchase merchandise with a small amount of money/or lots and lots of Bazooka Joe comics (included in the 1d gum packs, sold separately). The ones that I know about are shown below (with thanks to Barry who provided most of these images). One of the interesting things though is that the Series1 and 2 Bazooka Joe offers (see below) included the offer price in post and pre-decimal although the wrapper itself priced the gum only in pre-decimal. If you know of other wrappers or Bazooka Joe offers please email me here. The offers could be redeemed by sending to Bazooka Joe, P.O. Box 20, Spilsby Road, Romford, Essex (A&BC Chewing Gum's address).

Series 1	Series 2	Series 3

Special Bazooka offers
	Angle-head flash light Swell for camping, hooks right on your belt, has powerful beam and flash, signal button, less batteries. Free for only ??? Bazooka comics, or??? and ??? Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 1.
	Ball pen Retractable pen with strong pocket clip, writes in black, blue or red inks. Specify ink colour. Free for only 100 Bazooka comics, or 1/- (5p.) and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 2 and 3.
	Bazooka Joe's Secret Club Join Bazooka Joe's Secret Club. Get Secret Siren Ring, Secret Code, and Certificate. Send 72 Bazooka Joe comics for free membership or only one shilling (5p.) and five Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 2 and 3.
	Camera Takes sharp, clear photos, 8 pictures on each roll standard 127 colour and black and white fil. With instructions, carrying strap and guarantee is yours for only 320 Bazooka comics, or 5/- (25p.) and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 1, 2 and 3.
	Concert mouth organ Concert Mouth Organ, the real thing with excellent tone reproduction. Free for only 360 Bazooka comics, or 6/- (30p.) and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 2.
	Folding wallet Folding Wallet, just like Dad's, in imitation crocodile skin, takes banknotes and stamps with a special pocket for photographs etc. Free for only 125 Bazooka comics, or 2/- (10p.) and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 2.
	Football pennant Your favourite English or Scottish League First Division Team Pennant. Free for only 125 Bazooka comics, or 2/- (10p.) and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 1, 2 and 3.
	Italian Guitar "Chitarra Sandy" the small Italian Guitar, 26" long, for the prospective pop artist, complete with Carrying Strap and Plastic Plucker. Free with only 1,800 Bazooka comics or ???? and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 1.
	Leather football Real Leather Football complete with bladder in regulation size. Free for only 1,200 Bazooka comics or £1-0-0 and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 1 and 2.
	Solid State 6 Transistor Radio Solid State 6 Transistor Radio with Carrying Strap, Battery and Earplug. Free for only 2,200 Bazooka comics, or 40/- (200p.) and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 1 and 2.
	Stamps Start your own Stamp Collection with Stanley Gibbons Stamp Packets, 9" x 7", PVC Packs contains the following either: 40 Animals, 40 Arts and Artists, 32 Aviation, 26 Butterflies and Insects, 32 Costumes, 30 Fish and ????, 28 Flags, 35 Flowers, 28 Maps, 30 Music, 40 Ships, 28 Space, 35 Sport, 190 Whole ????, 260 Whole World, 40 Great Britain, 95 British Commonwealth. Known as an offer with: Series 1 (and Series 3 Superstar poster)
	Swiss watch Genuine Swiss Watch, gilt for boys, jewelled for girls, complete with strap and packed in hardboard box. Free for only 2,200 Bazooka comics, or 40/- and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 2 and 3.
	Table tennis set Table Tennis Set for two players including Wooden Bats rubberised on one side, Net and one Ball. Free for only 630 Bazooka comics, or 10/- (50p.) and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 1 and 3.
	Tee shirt Wear a Tee Shirt just like the one Bazooka Joe wears, start off a neighbourhood fad. State your age and your size. Free for only 250 Bazooka comics, or 4/- (20p.) and 10 Bazooka comics. Known as an offer with: Series 1, 2 and 3.

Mystery item: Shown below is a mystery wrapper. It appears to be from the Orange backs set, but the concept of a new 'Superstar poster' is unknown. If you can help identify this wrapper or the superstar posters please email me here.

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