1942–1950 Superman-Tim Club Membership Cards



Superman-Tim Club


Tim's Pie Eaters Club was created in January 1925 by Streeter Blair. Regional club branches were established at department stores nationwide. Tim's Franco Club was sponsored by Frankenberger's in Charleston, West Virginia.

The Superman Tim-Club was established in July 1942 through a partnership between Superman, Inc. and Tim Promotions, Inc. Each club member received a monthly magazine, a button pin, and an official membership card.

The membership cards contain a secret code used to decipher club messages. Unlike the Supermen of America Club, a new card and code was issued to Superman-Tim Club members every September. Various retailers mailed a Superman-Tim birthday postcard and Christmas card each year. Some participating stores offered a free birthday pie.

The first stamp series was issued from September 1942 to September 1943. Each are numbered and perforated similar to a postage stamp. The stamps could be pasted on the white Superman-Tim Press Card. The 1942–1943 Press Card and stamps do not contain any copyright date. The World War II storyline involves an international spy known as the Brown Scorpion. Stamp #2 depicts a racist caricature of a Japanese soldier.

1942–1943 : Superman-Tim Press Card
1942–1943 : Superman-Tim Press Card


The 1943–1944 stamps depict large numbers and secret code text. The complete set of twelve could be pasted inside of the red Superman-Tim Press Card. The Press Card and stamps do not contain a copyright year. The Brown Scorpion appears again in an Airland plot.

1943–1944 : Superman-Tim Press Card
1943–1944 : Superman-Tim Press Card


The 1944–1945 stamps measure 2 x 3 inches and the Press Card title was changed to Superman-Tim Club for Boys. The story follows Superman and Tim travelling around the world in search of the "11 Silver Boxes." The 1944–1945 stamps do not include any copyright information. Each poster stamp contains numbering inside of a white circle. A stamp album was included in the September 1944 issue of Superman-Tim. The code card is copyrighted by Superman, Inc. and does not contain a year.

1944–1945 : Superman Tim-Club for Boys
1944–1945 : Superman Tim-Club for Boys


The 1945–1946 stamp album was included in the September 1945 issue of Superman-Tim. The 2 x 3 inch stamps are labeled for each month and do not contain a copyright year. The August 1946 stamp features Tim trapped inside a giant clam. The green code card is copyrighted by Superman, Inc. and reads: "Good until Sept. 1946"

1945–1946 : Superman Tim-Club for Boys
1945–1946 : Superman Tim-Club for Boys


The 1946–1947 stamps are labeled for each month of the year. Each stamp features an illustration of Tim and Superman in "The Search for El Dorado." A stamp album was included in the September 1946 issue of Superman-Tim. The code card is copyrighted 1946 by Superman, Inc. The red and blue code card reads: "This card is good until September, 1947."

1946–1947 : Superman-Tim Club Official Membership Card
1946–1947 : Superman-Tim Club Official Membership Card


The 1947–1948 stamps depict Superman and Tim facing various elements of nature. A stamp album was included in the September 1947 issue of Superman-Tim. The stamps and code card are copyrighted 1947 by Nat'l Comics Pub. The red and black code card reads: "Official until September, 1948"

1947–1948 : Superman-Tim Club Membership Card
1947–1948 : Superman-Tim Club Membership Card


The 1948–1949 series followed Superman and Tim in "Airland Adventures." The set includes a Loch Ness monster inspired creature on the August 1949 stamp. The stamps and code cards are copyrighted 1948 by Nat'l Comics Pub. The red and black code card reads: "This card is good until September, 1949."

1948–1949 : Superman-Tim Club Membership Card
1948–1949 : Superman-Tim Club Membership Card


The final membership card was mailed in September 1949. The 1949–1950 storyline placed Superman and Tim in a western Rancho setting. The stamps and code card are copyrighted 1949 by Nat'l Comics Pub. The orange code card depicts Tim as a cowboy and reads: "This card is good until September, 1950."

1949–1950 : Superman-Tim Club Membership Card
1949–1950 : Superman-Tim Club Membership Card


The Superman-Tim Club distributed eight different sets of collectible "Poster Stamps" from September 1942 to September 1949. The stamps contain messages that are deciphered with yearly code cards. A new stamp was included with each monthly issue.

April–May 1947, Superman-Tim Club Poster Stamps
April–May 1947, Superman-Tim Club Poster Stamps


Superman Redbacks were distributed from 1944–1950 in denominations of one, five, and ten. Each Superman Redback measures 2.5 x 5.5 inches. The coupons could be redeemed for premiums such as a Superman-Tim Secret Code ring.

Superman-Tim Redbacks, One (1944–1949)


There are 94 issues of Superman-Tim. All issues are at least 16 pages, including the covers. Months that feature a Superman-Tim comic are 24–36 pages. Superman does not appear in the final two issues dated April and May 1950. Superman-Tim Club birthday cards were mailed to members as late as October 1950.

In 2008, an official reproduction of the March 1949 issue of Superman-Tim was included with The DC Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book featuring Rare Collectibles from the DC Universe. The reprint does not include a stamp.


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