1967 Primrose Confectionery : Superman Sweet Cigarettes
Superman Sweet Cigarettes were distributed in the UK and Canada by Primrose
Confectionery Co., Ltd. of Slough, England. Each box included a mini Superman
card that measures approximately 2.5 x 1.35 inches.
The 50-card series is copyrighted 1967 by "National Periodical Publicity Inc.," a typo for National Periodical Publications. The candy boxes are copyrighted 1966. The Primrose Superman series is sometimes categorized as
1968 or 1972 due to multiple print runs. The first printing is on card stock;
later printings are on thin paper.
The storyline on the back of each card features Lex Luthor and Brainiac as the
protagonists. The artist and writer for this set are not credited.
First appearing in 1875, cigarette cards were once a popular method of
brand advertisement. The cards also functioned to keep packs rigid and prevent cigarettes from
breaking. The concept was abandoned by most manufacturers due to
World War II paper
shortages and a perceived link to underage smoking. Trading cards were
commonly packaged with bubble gum following the introduction of
Dubble Bubble from Fleer.
Primrose Confectionery Co., Ltd. was operational from 1960 until 1988.
During the late 1970s, Superman Sweet Cigarettes were being distributed
throughout Europe and Canada by Bassett's and the Barratt Division. In 1979,
Barratt began to phase out candy cigarettes. Superman Sweet Cigarettes were re-branded as
Candy Sticks.
From 1980–1982, The Health Education Council ran an anti-smoking campaign
featuring Superman vs. Nick O'Teen, a dastardly villain that encourages
children to smoke. Three animated public service announcements were produced
by the Richard Williams studio. The cartoons premiered in the UK on Boxing Day
in 1980.
An 8-page illustrated story and full-page advertisements appeared in
various comic books and magazines. Throughout the campaign, Superman repeated
the slogan, "Never say yes to a cigarette." The cost of the operation was more
than £3.5 million. Boxes of Superman Sweet Cigarettes remained in stores while
the cartoons aired.
Candy cigarettes have been prohibited in many countries including Canada and the United Kingdom. In 1970 and 1991, unsuccessful attempts were made to ban candy cigarettes in the United States. The products remain available in similar packaging, but can not be labeled as cigarettes.
Checklist | |
1 | Man V. Plane |
2 | Superman Acts Fast |
3 | Monster of the Loch |
4 | Secret Ray Peril |
5 | T.V. Trap |
6 | Robot Terror |
7 | Forearm Beats... |
8 | Brainiac's Gremlins |
9 | Machine Smasher |
10 | Saving the Village |
11 | Arrested in Space |
12 | Bank Robbers Foiled |
13 | Dummy Superman |
14 | Space Hitch-Hike |
15 | Wrong Ray |
16 | Devil Fish |
17 | Useless Rockets |
18 | Speed Boat Flight |
19 | Atomic Pile-Up |
20 | Time Shock |
21 | Space-Car |
22 | Luthor Beaten |
23 | Supervision Power |
24 | Buried Danger |
25 | Moon Raiders |
26 | Sky-Scraping |
27 | Elephant Circus |
28 | Bam Versus Pow! |
29 | Astonish Astronaut |
30 | Dictator's Dilemma |
31 | Shattered Shark |
32 | Sky Dive |
33 | Saving the Pit |
34 | Rope-Trick Foiled |
35 | Railroad Hi-Jack |
36 | Landslide Lorry |
37 | Sky-Light Jump |
38 | Racing Scare |
39 | His Own Medicine |
40 | Gas Bag Explodes |
41 | Peril in the Clouds |
42 | Socking Sewer Rats |
43 | Space Nightmare |
44 | Luthor Shock |
45 | Holding the Bridge |
46 | Temple Fury |
47 | Circus Shock |
48 | Saucer Surprise |
49 | Jewel Joke |
50 | Crazy Bike |