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The catalogue produced by Subbuteo each year gives the collector a variety of information about the history of the game. You will notice that they are usually dated over two years, say 1955 - 56. Some of the ealier versions have a month of issue and it would appear that the annual catalogue was issued each summer to cover the forthcoming football season once the company had settled down. My usual warning applies here: do not assume the date on the catalogue is the first time an item was on sale. It is a guide but most items were avaialble for some time before they appeared in the catalogue.

So what do the catalogues tell us? They provide a full list of team colours and, as they appeared each year, an indication of when teams appeared and in some cases ceased. They also list the accessories (with some interesting descriptions) so the same applies. The arrival of accessories sometimes gives us clues about significant changes in the game, new goals for example. Once or twice offers appear in the catalogues giving further insight in to what was available and when. Other literature supplied with accessories or pitches is also useful in this respect.

I look for particular things when I read the catalogues, partly because I want to piece together the history of the game. You may well have different uses for them. I therefore think the best thing to do, within my space limitations, is to present some of the catalogues in full and let you take from them what you wish. I only own a handfull from the flat era so if you have something interesting please send me a good copy.

The first known and therefore probably most important catalogue appeared in 1948. As we do not know what form the initial information was sent out in 1947 it is possible that could be considered the first catalogue. There was certainly a lot of advertising taking place in the run up to Christmas 1947.




subbuteo catalogues Subbuteo archive