Pre-war Programmes

Posted: 27 Jun 2022

These are, of course, much rarer than more modern issues. but even here there are variations in both price and rarity.

One of the deciding factors is the pure quality of the production. the better ones such as the Arsenal pictured opposite were well ahead of their time. They therefore survive in greater numbers and the price is therefore lower.

Their North London neighbours and rivals Tottenham Hotspur produced a poor 4 page paper issue right through until the double season of 1960-1961, the quality poor, so good condition items are much rarer.

Another factor is the print run, Arsenal were the team of the 30's and had huge crowds at Highbury. Tottenham during the same period spent a time in the second division. Lower crowds, lower print run.

The real hard ones are of course the smaller clubs, trying to find Barrow, Hartlepool and the like pre-war is very hard indeed.

So prices for them will be higher, though to balance this, less collectors will be chasing them.

Condition is a major value factor and too often we are offered collections "in good condition" which when we collect or receive, are anything but.

That is why our website tries to give as fair a picture as possible, not the easiest job we have to do.

Not the cheapest area of collecting, but reading the cartoons on Chelsea and Tottenham of the period can be quite entertaining.