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Description:
A fantastic, curated piece of British social history tracing the golden eras of Butlin's holiday resorts. This comprehensive estate lot spans over four decades of nostalgia, from post-war lounge gaming to the booming 1980s "Holiday Worlds" era, making it perfect for collectors of seaside history, advertising ephemera, or mid-century design.
The first piece in the lot is a vintage 1950s presentation boxed playing cards set:
- The Box: This maroon padded slipcase with a central divider houses two full sets of cards side-by-side. The box has been professionally restored to repair small tearing to the corner and side, and the damage on the face has been stabilized.
- The Cards: Included are two complete 52-card decks, with two jokers (red set). One deck features the classic "Butlin's For Holidays" logo in red, while the other features the teal/green logo variant. The cards are in very good vintage condition with just the occasional light creasing as is to be expected with age.
Also included is a matching pair of limited-edition Holiday Hotels Christmas glass mini-mugs from 1963:
- The History: These rare pieces come from Billy Butlin's prestigious year-round luxury hotel chain and were given exclusively to guests during the 1963 Christmas house parties.
- The Design: The heavy, retro paneled dimple beer mugs measure seven centimeters tall by five centimeters in diameter. One side features the red cursive logo under the text Holiday Hotels Xmas 1963, while the reverse showcases a striking mid-century double-candle graphic. Both glasses are in excellent condition with remarkably vibrant, unpeeled graphics.
Representing the later era of the camps is a vibrant 1980s Butlin's Holiday Worlds melamine souvenir photo plate:
- Design & Era: Measuring just over twenty-three centimeters in diameter with a modern square-round shape, the front graphic captures the peak 1980s holiday camp boom by showcasing a bustling outdoor pool complex and the famous white water flume slide.
- Condition: This plate is in bright, excellent condition and incredibly retains its original, intact souvenir shop price tag on the reverse showing it originally cost one pound.
Rounding off the estate collection is a card-mounted and bagged companion pack of three badges to add great historical context:
- 1957 Pwllheli Camp Badge: Classic circular design featuring the blue-rimmed dragon motif.
- 1967 Beavers Club Badge: Famous children's club badge featuring the red rider on a horse.
- 1937 Skegness "Jolly Fisherman" Tribute Badge: A beautiful vintage resin-dome replica of the ultra-rare pre-war cutout design, giving a nod to the very earliest era of the camps.
Shipping:
The collection will be carefully packed and sent via Royal Mail Tracked 48 Service.
