The 1965 “Giants of Sport” Series 1 and Series 2 were British-issued collectible booklets produced by Bancroft Tiddlers, featuring notable sports figures from around the world in a compact hand-cut format. Unlike traditional trading cards, the collectibles were originally printed as small booklet pages, with a portrait or illustration of one athlete on the front and a biography of a completely different athlete printed on the reverse, meaning the front and back subjects intentionally do not match once separated.
For auto racing collectors, the sets are particularly notable for featuring three significant motorsport figures: Australian Formula One champion Jack Brabham in Series 1, legendary five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio in Series 2, and British land speed record holder John Cobb, also in Series 2. Because these cards were designed to be cut from booklet pages rather than issued as standalone cards, collectors frequently encounter examples where the reverse biography belongs to the adjacent athlete instead of the player pictured on the front — an intentional production characteristic that often causes confusion but remains one of the most distinctive features of this quirky mid-1960s issue.
“Giants of Sport”
Jack Brabham – Front
“Giants of Sport”
Jack Brabham – Back
“Giants of Sport II”
John Cobb – Front
“Giants of Sport II”
John Cobb – Back
“Giants of Sport II”
Juan Manuel Fangio – Front
“Giants of Sport II”
Juan Manuel Fangio – Back