Card Identification Forum

They are from Belgium, but that's about all I know...

No specific information on the overall set, but the text on the back refers to a gingerbread factory named Van Deun Poppeliers in Turnhout, a municpality in Belgium that lasted from 1924 to 1987 [1]. The bottom text advertises their "Astra" or "Campina" honey cakes.

Attached is an example of another advertisement [2].

Overall, the cards features a mixture of both French and Dutch (on front and back), which is common for Belgium. For example, the top line of the first card is French where the second line is Dutch.

"Dans les Pampas de l'Amerique du Sud" (French) translates to "In the Pampas of South America."
"In de Pampas van Zuid-Amerika" (Dutch) is the translation of the same phrase into Dutch.

The "Pampas" refers to the fertile South American lowlands covering parts of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. This area is well-known for its vast grasslands and is a significant agricultural and cattle-raising region.

The second card has French on the left side and Dutch on the right side.

"Sous le 1er Empire" (French) translates to "Under the First Empire". This likely refers to the First French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte (1804–1814/1815).
"Un coucou" (French) translates to "A cuckoo," which could refer either to the bird or possibly to a type of clock, known for its cuckoo sound.
"De Koekkoek" could be a reference to a surname. It's also Dutch and can be translated as "The Cuckoo," but in this context, it's more likely a name.
"Onder het Eerste Keizerrijk" (Dutch) translates back to "Under the First Empire," mirroring the initial French phrase.

This could possibly refer to Barend Cornelis Koekkoek, a notable historical figure during the time of the First French Empire, though not directly associated with it. [3].

[1] https://erfgoednoorderkempen.be/project/koek/

[2] https://www.facebook.com/StadsarchiefTurnhout/photos/a.360269967642603/403337120002554/

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barend_Cornelis_Koekkoek

I was able to find the first image with a different back [1]. In this example, the publisher / brand is stated as "Gbrs Van Waetermeulen" (Brothers Van Waetermeulen) [2] and the name of the album or collection is "Reis om de Wereld door een kleinen Belg" (Journey Around the World by a Little Belgian) [3]. Therefore the set should show different countries/etc. of the world. Given the same card numbers, appears it could be a similar checklist with a variation back.

Here are some additional cards:
4 Arrivèe à New York / Aankomst te New York [4]
9 Un Jardin à Tokio / Een Tuin te Tokio [5]
10 En Pousse-Pousse à Pékin / In een Stootkarretje te Pékin [6]

The text of this back is as follows:

"Gbrs. Van Waetermeulen Yzerstraat - Kolenkaai, Brugge Telefoon 33255 Koopt de Produkten: <> <> <> <> - <> welke allen een prachtige chromo bevatten. Vraagt aan Uwen kruidenier het album en de voorwaarden om de chromos die ontbreken gratis te ontvangen Reeks Reis om de Wereld door een kleinen Belg : 25 chr."

with a possible translation being:

"Brothers Van Waetermeulen Iron Street - Coal Quay, Bruges Telephone 33255 Purchase the Products: "The Waetermeulen" "The Rose" - "Three Roses" "The Golden Chalice" - "Boma" all of which contain a beautiful chromolithograph. Ask your grocer for the album and the conditions to receive the missing chromos for free Series Journey Around the World by a Little Belgian: 25 cents."

[1] https://www.lastdodo.com/en/items/6927537-in-de-pampas-van-zuid-amerika

[2] https://www.lastdodo.com/en/areas/3787845-gbrs-van-waetermeulen

[3] https://www.lastdodo.com/en/areas/3791517-reis-om-de-wereld-door-een-kleinen-belg

[4] https://www.lastdodo.com/en/items/6927531-aankomst-te-new-york

[5] https://www.lastdodo.com/en/items/6927543-een-tuin-te-tokio

[6] https://www.lastdodo.com/en/items/6927553-in-een-stootkarretje-te-pekin

Another update, the album appears to contain 25 total cards spread across 4 pages. The date is unknown, but suggested around 1930 [1, 2].

The first listing only shows the first page of cards, #1-9 which are relatively clear to read [1]. The second listing shows the full album, but blurry images [2].

[1] https://www.lastdodo.com/en/items/4401603-le-tour-du-monde-d-un-petit-belge-reis-om-de-wereld-door-een-kleinen-belg

[2] https://www.2dehands.be/v/boeken/prentenboeken-en-plaatjesalbums/m1959687691-astra-reis-om-de-wereld-door-een-kleinen-belg-1930

Hi,

Thanks a bunch for all this intel, I would tend to agree on a 25 cards set, but it might be earlier than the Van Waetermeulen set,... Who knows.

There are so many French & Belge sets yet to be added on TCBD...

You are welcome! It's quite possible that the "Van Deun - Poppeliers" variation appeared earlier. However, I could not find any other cards featuring their advertisement on the back, which limits the information I can provide about the company as a whole. If I come across anything else, I will reply to this thread or send you a message.

Another article which mentions the set in the context of chocolate [1]. Below is rough translation from French to American English.

[1] https://lemondedeschocolateriesbelges.wordpress.com/category/junon/

41 – Junon Chocolaterie
JUNE 5, 2019
Junon Chocolaterie – Verviers
Name:
Junon Chocolaterie, N. Noirfalise & Co., Mangombroux Street 200 – Verviers

Nestor Noirfalise, born in Verviers on June 2, 1876, was the director of the "Le Triomphe" chocolate factory Raxhon and Bauer (Verviers) between 1911 and 1914, and in 1913 had roles in the Pepinster chocolate factory.
It was in 1914 that Jules Mouget, son, director of the Longchamps Brewery in Verviers and Nestor Noirfalise, chocolatier, founded "Junon Chocolaterie, N. Noirfalise & Co".

In May 1917, a decision was made and a request submitted to build chocolate factory buildings in front of the brewery facilities, at 196 Mangombroux Street. The works were completed in 1919.

The end of the 1914-1918 war was an opportunity for the company to give its various chocolate qualities symbolic names;
1918: "Unity is Strength" and "Chocolate Albert the Victorious"
1919: "Chocolate, the Triumphant Return" and "Chocolate of the Avenger"
1920: "Vindictive Chocolate," named after a ship sunk in Oostende.

In July 1921, Junon acquired the "Old Town Chocolate" brand and 166 chocolate molds from the Vien and Gonay company, a chocolate factory established on June 20, 1912, located at 27 Laine Street in Verviers, and liquidated in 1921.

Junon Chocolaterie does not engage in flashy advertising but offers an assortment of first-choice items, of perfect quality, especially appreciated by connoisseurs, resulting from 25 years of experience.

In 1933, the "Junon Omnium Chocolates" brand appeared, the first letters of which spell out JOC, the acronym for Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne (Christian Working Youth).
Initially, the company was named: "Junon Chocolaterie, N. Noirfalise and Co"; later, there were two companies: "N. Noirfalise and Co" and "Junon Chocolaterie S.A."

Following contacts with a German named Lessich, who was experimenting with vegetable fats, Mr. Mouget replaced the fat from ground cocoa beans with a coconut fat called "cocoline". After a while, the chocolate became rancid and developed a taste of green soap. This process was disastrous for Junon, which ceased operations in 1935-36. Most of the staff were rehired at the Aiglon chocolate factory.

Image albums distributed by Junon:
– "Monuments and Sites of Belgium" 100 chromos
– "The World Tour of a Little Belgian" 25 chromos
– "Means of Transport and Fashions Through the Ages" 25 chromos
– "Ciné-Artists Junon" 100 chromos

Major brands and appellations of Junon Chocolaterie:
Junon 1914
Majestic Junon 1916
Swiss Alps 1916
Children's Whim 1916
Cacao Junon 1916
Junon Marquisette 1920
Old Town 1921
Dady Junon 1923
Belgor 1929
Junon Omnium Chocolate 1930
Ciné Artist 1931
Trio 1932
Club Junon 1933

Another article which specifically talks about this set/album. In this case, it is another variation given the name of the album and the cards themselves [1]. Below is rough translation from French to American English.

[1] https://plaatjesalbums.info/images/pdf/Faust-ea.pdf

ANPA – ARCHIVES OF DUTCH PICTURE ALBUMS
FVKP01
A journey around the world by a Dutch boy
Fa. Faust and De Vries Cookie Factory, Andijk N.H. (192?)
Kerkman’s Consumption Ice Cream Factory N.V., Zandvoort
Perfecta Factory of Nutritional Products, Fijnaart
Atlas Advertising Trade, Rotterdam
2 sheets for sticking 25 color pictures.

These pictures, issued in the Netherlands by Advertising Trade Atlas, originate from Belgium, where they were issued with bilingual French - Dutch printing on the front, titled "Journey Around the World of a Little Belgian" / "Le Tour du Monde d’un Petit Belge". The first picture, "Departure from Brussels", is replaced in the Dutch issue by "Departure from Amsterdam", and two pictures of "Belgian Congo" have been renumbered and cunningly retitled to "Gold Diggers in Suriname" and "Landscape in Borneo". Only one Belgian album is known, from Astra Nouvelles Huileries.

Based on the depicted steam-sail ships and the London airport, we estimate this album to be from the second half of the twenties.

Characteristics
A hardcover album of 18 x 27 cm, with 1 double-folded inner sheet with a page of company advertising followed by 2 pages with 9 (3 x 3) pictures and the fourth page with 7 (3 – 3 – 1) pictures. The album was also released by Atlas Advertising Trade itself, with a text instead of the company advertising on the first page. The album has no text beside the pictures, only frames to stick the pictures in.
The pictures of 40 x 70 mm including a narrow white border are printed on thin white cardboard. All pictures are in portrait format. They are numbered consecutively 1 – 25 at the top left on the front. The series title is printed at the top of the first picture. On a number of pictures, the national flag is depicted in a corner in an oblique line, as shown on the pictured plate jacket below.

Content
The journey in this series of pictures is simply depicted in short sentences on the front of the pictures: "Departure from Amsterdam", "Arrival in Paris. Visit of the Monuments", etc. The boy travels in one picture via Paris and Cherbourg (instead of Rotterdam!) to New York, Canada, Mexico, South America – in the Belgian version directly, in the Dutch version via the inserted picture 7 of Suriname – across the Pacific Ocean to Tokyo, Beijing, Borneo, Siam, Calcutta, on foot through the forest in India, Ceylon, the Red Sea, through the Suez Canal, Egypt, across the Sahara by camel – in the Belgian version followed by pictures 19 and 20 of "Belgian Congo" – Natal, the Cape (with in the Belgian version the incorrect imprint Return to Europe instead of to Europe), to London "The World's Largest Port", and from there by biplane back home with finally the "End of the wonderful journey" in Brussels or Amsterdam.

The first picture; on the left is the Dutch version and on the right a Belgian issue from a corset factory, which prominently placed the company name on the front and an advertisement on the back "Everyone wears corsets brand D.W."

Faust and De Vries Cookie Factory in Andijk released four advertising albums in the thirties: "Bonte Kleuren" and "Collection Album with Educational Description of Pictures from the Animal World" by Philips Advertising Trade, and the larger albums "Dogs in Word and Image" (1931 et seq.) and "Traffic on land, on water, and in the air" (1935). Prior to this, two small albums were released with Belgian advertising pictures imported by Advertising Trade Atlas in Rotterdam, the album discussed here "A journey around the World by a Dutch Boy", and the Belgian album "Transport and Dress Through the Ages", which Faust & De Vries released in the Netherlands as the only one (see Faust & De Vries).

No other publications are known from Kerkman and Perfecta

The design of the Belgian album from Astra (licorice and confectionery) is completely in line with the Dutch one, where the company name Astra is printed in the fill-in space at the top of the pages.

The story of the journey around the world may have been inspired by the thick adventure book "The Journey Around the World of a Parisian Street Boy" by H. Bertrand, which was published in the Netherlands in 1928 by Publisher Groot Nederland.
Another possible source of inspiration for these pictures is the much more beautifully drawn French series "Le Tour du monde en 84 Étappes" by Chocolat Guérin – Boutron in Paris around 1910. This series of 84 pictures without an album also only has a place indication printed on the front, and here too a boy in blue with short pants and a cap is on the move, along with a girl.