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GENERAL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION "ATHLETES OF THE WORLD" BASKETBALL CARDS (ISRAEL)
General Merchants of Israel produced this World Athletes album and cards in 1955, a follow up to their successful 1954 album, Hasport Haisraeli, that featured local Israeli athletes. The Athletes of the World album can be dated to 1955 from advertisements for it in papers at the time. This album was released in two versions, a more common printed version (with no cards) and a card version that was similar to their Hasport Haisraili album. The printed version of the album can be found with some searching, but the card version and actual cards from this album are nearly impossible to find. I assume this is because of the great deal of redemptions one needed to obtain them (as outlined in the advertisement). There were 144 cards of athletes from across the world, 16 of which feature basketball players. Notable other athletes include Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Sugar Ray Robinson and Ferenc Puskás.
Measurements (approx): 1.875” x 2.75”
1955
