S is for Studio Cards & Gifts

I think they are still going, but as more of an online model, with bespoke 'personalised' stuff, but it could be another company, 20-years have gone by! But Studio Cards & Gifts used to be a mail-order firm of the type which fished for customers with ad's for Home Farms, Noah sets, and the like (we've seen one of their Nativities here), in women's magazines in the 1980's. Reeling you in with payment terms like the book clubs on the back of Sunday Supplements.

 

This catalogue from 2004's Christmas season includes possibly the earliest example of the Supreme sets I have in the archive, although the stuff itself is older? And the Western town is still kicking around, although I think you can only find the smaller Pirate sets these days?

Not sure if I've noticed the snakes before (and I have posted images of the town), but they do turn-up quite often, so it's nice to know they are Supreme Wild West and not from some zoo/jungle animal set!

Very different 'little jolly boat' to the bright reddy-orange or turquoise ones you can still find in the tourist-attraction type carded rack-toy sets, one of which we have seen here, not that long ago. Interesting that the two crews are identified by red or blue clothing, even if only a bandana, so next time I get the figures out I should be able to photograph them as early (painted bases with skeleton 'enemy'), mid-production (red and blue 'crews'), and - as 'late' - any, shiny variations or simpler paint-jobs?