Fred the Frogman

Here's some more rub-down fun from Letraset! The Mini-Toons were launched in 1970 and proved very successful with the initial 12 sets eventually expanding to 48. Fred the Frogman was number seven in the first batch.

The packaging on my set doesn't match any shown on the excellent  Action Transfers website so must be a later variant. I bought it from a seller in the United States so it might be an international version.

(Click for larger images)

The Comrades' Art of Diving

Here's a selection of striking Russian book covers. Some of the titles are taken from eBay listings so any Russian speakers please feel free to offer better translations!


Underwater Sports (1959)

Neptunia is Beside Us (1968)

Underwater Adventure (1972) (Click for larger image)

Through the Glass of the Underwater Mask (1974) (Click for larger image)

Sea Hunt - The Games

Sea Hunt was an American TV series starring Lloyd Bridges as former US Navy frogman Mike Nelson. It first aired in January 1958, running for four seasons and 155 episodes. Rejected by the three TV networks of the day (ABC, CBS and NBC), the series went straight into the syndicated market. Producer Ivan Tors also made the short-lived series The Aquanauts which was renamed Malibu Run when the emphasis shifted to land-based adventures. His company was later responsible for the underwater sequences in the James Bond film Thunderball as well as his own Around the World Under the Sea. Several of Tors' other projects appeared both in the cinema and on TV: Flipper, Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion/ Daktari and Africa Texas Style/Cowboy in Africa.

Board games based on Sea Hunt were produced in the US and the UK. The US version was made by Lowell:

(Click for larger images)

The UK version was made by J & L Randall under their Merit brand:

It's interesting that the UK version doesn't feature any images of Lloyd Bridges. Budget reasons perhaps?

More Sea Hunt goodies coming soon!

L'Art de Plongée - C'est cet Homme à Nouveau

It's that man again! I thought I'd collect my remaining images concerning scuba pioneer Jacques Cousteau. Let's dive right in... (sorry!)

We'll start of with two editions of Le Monde du Silence (The Silent World)...

Robert Conjat.

J.P. Ariel

This piece is by Italian illustrator and comic artist Sergio Toppi (1932-2012)

Next we have French and Spanish posters for Le Monde Sans Soleil (World Without Sun)…

Artist Darigo also produced posters for clients such as SNCF, Loterie Nationale and Philips. (Click for lager image).

Variations on the artwork for the Spanish poster appeared in various territories.

Two commemorative stamps now. I think these speak for themselves.

This card was given away with Brooke Bond tea in 1973 and was part of the set Adventurers and Explorers.

This next piece is a warning against the dangers of alcohol. After a brief summary of Cousteau's career we're told that he remains sober and that alcohol is deadly to divers! A tad extreme perhaps but the Art of Diving does recommend against drinking and diving.

Finally, this Jughead cover doesn't actually feature Cousteau but I thought it was worth including here. Art by Stan Goldberg. (Click for larger image).

The Loved-Up Art of Diving

This time last year I assaulted your eyeballs with a selection of vintage American valentine cards and I'm sorry to say I've found some more! Only two this time so count yourselves lucky!

The second card fits nicely with our feature presentation - a romantic Archie story that appeared in Laugh in 1990. Long-time Art of Diving followers might remember a similar story with the same title that I featured back in 2015. At least writer George Gladir was recycling his own work! Pencils by Stan Goldberg and inks by Rudy Lapick who had also worked on the original Marcia story back in 1962. (Click for larger images).

The Rub-Down Art of Diving

Browsing eBay recently I came across someone selling original Letraset Action Transfers and I couldn't resist buying one of them. I remember buying various sets back in the day although I don't recall if I ever had Underwater City. (Click for larger images).

Although I opened the packet so I could scan the contents, I didn't want to actually use the transfers. Thanks to Photoshop (other image-editing software is available) I've been able to create a virtual finished product:

Underwater City was one of the twelve original Action Transfers sets that were launched in 1969. Earlier products had been available but this was the first time the name Action Transfers was used.
In 1965 some larger format "Panoramas" had been launched. These originally had black and white transfers but were later re-issued with colour versions.

You can see more about Action Transfers here and can see the original Ocean Deep Panorama here.

In 1974 a range of Mini Action Transfers were produced and included a set called Deep-Sea Exploration.


I also saw this Action Man Military Panorama set on eBay but sadly it was beyond my price-range.

The Wide World of Diving

Here are three more covers from The Wide World magazine. Only one of the artists is credited and unfortunately I haven't been able to find out anything about them.

(Click for larger images).

This one has an interior illustration which I had to share so here's a diver punching a shark! As you do.

This cover is credited to "Langhammer".

I wonder if this diver is saying to himself, "Mine! All mine!"?!

Sorry, I'll get my coat.