 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
This set of "Birthday Horoscopes" cards, with illustrations on the front and horoscopes on the back, was available from "Rueckheim Bros. & Eckstein," which was the name of the company before it became known as "The Cracker Jack Company." The following message is found on the back at the bottom of each card:
This is one of 12 cards, one for each month.
We will send you the set of 12 for 8 cents in stamps
to cover postage and packing.
Address Premium Dept.
RUECKHEIM BROS. & ECKSTEIN
CHICAGO, ILL.
And each of the cards offers this universal horoscope:
Persons born during this month should eat
CRACKER JACK AND
ANGELUS MARSHMALLOWS
It is thought that the individual cards were used as point-of-sale premiums, not boxed prizes, around 1912 because of (1) the name of the company on the cards,(2) the reference to the Premium Department,(3) no mention of other cards available in boxes of Cracker Jack, and(4) the fact that the cards show no molasses stains--which would be expected if the cards had been in boxes, since prizes were not wrapped during that time. Interestingly, the horoscopes seem to have been targeted more toward grown-ups than children. It is possible that the cards were given away at Cracker Jack's Premium Department in Chicago when customers went there to redeem Cracker Jack coupons.The cards measure approximately 2 1/2 inches x 5 inches.
Thanks to Harriet Joyce for the original image scans and additional information.
(Images have been retouched.)
