Notes for 3-Reel Packets

 
Nations of the World Series

These S6/G1 style packets included a stamp and coin from the subject country.

Nations of the World library casesSawyer's marketed a "Nations of the World Library" consisting of thirty folder albums in three slipcases; each album held a packet, its booklet, and the subject country's coin & stamp. The Library was sold with thirty 3-reel packets included as catalog item #2108; the library folders and slipcases were also available without packets as catalog item #2164.

Although the Nations of the World Series encompassed many more countries, the Library set provided folders for only thirty titles:

Argentina   Chile   Germany   India   Portugal   Uruguay
Austria   Colombia   Greece   Modern Israel   South Africa   Scenic U.S.A.
Belgium   Ecuador   Holland   Italy   Spain   Vatican City
Bolivia   England   Hong Kong   Mexico   Sweden   Venezuela
Canada   France   Iceland   Panama   Switzerland   Seven Wonders of the World

The Series continued after GAF acquired View-Master, but in name only commencing with the G3 packet style (early 1970s) when the inclusion of coins and stamps was discontinued.


 
State Tour Series

State Tour logoAlthough Sawyer's published packets devoted to each of the (48 or) 50 U.S. states as early as the S2 period, the "State Tour Series" of the S6-G1 period is particularly popular among collectors.

These issues commonly are referred to as "map front" packets, because the envelope front displays a colorful map of the subject state. There are two styles:

Though not yet established with certainty, it is unlikely the packet devoted to a given state was published in both styles.


 
View-Master Science Series

Science Series logoThis excellent educational series was initiated by Sawyer's and continued for a time by GAF. The packets all are S6, G1, or G2 variants with a unified cover design consisting of images from the packets against an olive green background.

Many of the titles in this series continued into the G3 period and later. While GAF still listed them as "Science Series" packets on mail-order forms, the G3-G6 packet envelopes did not carry the designation, nor did they share a common envelope design.


 
124-C Indian Ceremonial, Wisconsin Dells

This third reel from the unnumbered Wisconsin Dells packet is known to have been sold as a Belgian-issue single reel until the late 1960s/early 1970s.

 
136-A Washington D.C. I

This first reel from the unnumbered Washington D.C. packet is known in an Australian-issue version, which may have been marketed as a single reel. A specimen was offered by John Saddy in his Auction #03VM-2 (April 2003).

 
198-A San Francisco

This first reel from the unnumbered San Francisco packet is known in an Australian-issue version, which may have been marketed as a single reel. A specimen was offered by John Saddy in his Auction #99VM-5 (November 1999).

 
311-A/B/C Vancouver, British Columbia - S3

Belgian-manufactured reels are known to have been issued in the U.S.-manufactured S3 envelope. Whether this combination was marketed in North America, Europe, or both is unknown.

 
353-A/B/C Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh - S3D

The packet envelope is more an S2/S3 hybrid; while it has a line drawing within the large square window with rounded corners characteristic of the S3 style, it lacks the circle in the top right corner of the envelope front.

 
376-A/B/C Central Ontario, Toronto Area - S3 (U.S.-issue envelope/reels) & S3 (U.S.-issue envelope/Belgian-issue reels)

In addition to the more usual ©1956 reels, three differently titled/dated reels are known:

(These may be the Belgian-issue reels that were issued in a U.S.-made S3 envelope.)

 
397-A/B/C Ontario Vacationlands - S3D ©1956

The S3D envelope is known to have been issued with both hot pink and pale green background colors. "A038" is known to be rubber-stamped on the reverse of the S3D packet, but it may never have been issued as a numbered S4 or later packet.

 
501-A Mexico City

Pennsylvania collector Joe Hohmann has found the Reel Pack reel RP-501A in the unnumbered Mexico City packet, though the S3 envelope indicates reel 501-A. Whether the packet was originally issued with this reel substitution is not yet established.

 
812-B Droopy in "Funny Bullets"

This second reel from the unnumbered Tom & Jerry / Droopy / Spike 'n Tyke packet is known to have been sold as an Australian-issue single reel in a special sleeve.

 
Bobby the Bunny / The Little Red Hen / Skippy the Squirrel - S3, 830-A/-B/-C ©1957

"Bobby" (830-A) and "Skippy" (830-C) are live-action scenes photographed with real animals; "Little Red Hen" is a diorama.

 
842-A Donald Duck in "Sky Hammock"

This first reel from the unnumbered Donald Duck / Chip & Dale / Uncle Scrooge packet is known to have been sold as an Australian-issue single reel in a special sleeve.

 
842-B Chip & Dale in "Flying Saucer Pilots"

This second reel from the unnumbered Donald Duck / Chip & Dale / Uncle Scrooge packet is known to have been sold as an Australian-issue single reel in a special sleeve.

 
1565-A The Rhine, Rüdesheim to Königswinter

This first reel from the unnumbered Rhine packet is known in an Australian-issue version, marketed as a single reel.

 
Floralies Gand, 1955 / Floralien Gent, 1955 - S1/S2-full face, reels 1955-A & 1955-B

The reverse of the envelope of this early packet is known, perhaps in all instances, to list the reel numbers mistakenly as 1995-A & 1995-B.

 
Athens - S3/S4, reels 2151/2152/2154 ©1955/-55/-57

A very unusual variant is known to have been issued with no title or other text on the envelope front, only the art décoratif View-Master logo, an image of a Model E viewer, and a scene from the packet contents in the large central S3/S4-style window. The solid-color circle in the upper right corner, which normally would display a general subject catgory (S3) or a packet number (S4), is empty.

 
MICH-3 Michigan III

Collector Gregory Swanson reports that scene #7, "Lake Michigan Sunset at Grand Haven," is reversed; the pier and lighthouse are seen at left but in reality should appear to the right in the scene.

 
Souvenir de Lourdes - S5

An unusual S5 variant with no packet number, known to have contained the single reels 1418-D, 1418-F, & 1418-L (in a specimen offered by John Saddy in his auction #00VM-1, March 2000). The unnumbered S5-style envelope likely was used to package various combinations of the Lourdes single reels for sale on site.

 
Walt Disney Characters - S1/S2 (Belgian issue)

The three reels are:

 
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs - S3 (Belgian issue, w/booklet)

In addition to the normal S3 variant, an unusual envelope front is known in which the drawing of a View-Master viewer against a background of three reels, normally found at the lower right, is placed at the upper left and the circle normally found at the upper right is omitted altogether.

 
A051 Montreal - S4 (U.S.-issue envelope/Belgian-issue reels)

The S4 variant of this title is known to have been issued misnumbered as A050, which is the correct number for "Quebec City, La Vieille France en Amérique."

 
A100 Alaska

"A100" appears in Sawyer's packet lists from the S3-S4 transitional period and is known to be rubber-stamped on the reverse of the S3 Alaska packet, but it may never have been issued as a numbered S4 or later packet.

 
A157 Reno, Lake Tahoe, & Virginia City - S3

In addition to the normal unnumbered S3 variant, an unusual envelope design is known with the packet number A157 printed (not rubber-stamped) on the reverse.

 
A158 Hoover Dam & Lake Mead Recreation Area - SU, reels 8/11/SP-9008

Three single-numbered reels with dual copyright dates comprise the "Sawyer's Universal" variant, suggesting the packet was issued in 1959. The three reels may never have been issued singly.

 
A170 California

The S5 variant was succeeded by packets A168 & A169; the G1/G2 variants of A168 & A169 were succeeded by the G3 variant of A170.

 
A252 Portland Zoo - S5

Some specimens of the S5 variant are known with perforations along the envelope folds, suggesting the design remained in production into the GAF era. Such envelopes are usually (always?) found containing GAF-issue reels.

 
A271 Mt. Rainier National Park - S5

Some specimens of the S5 variant are known with perforations along the envelope folds, suggesting the design remained in production into the GAF era. Such envelopes are usually (always?) found containing GAF-issue reels.

 
A285 Idaho - S3/S5 hybrid

In addition to the normal S3 variant, an unusual envelope design is known with an S3 front (no packet number in the circle at upper right) and an S5 back (packet number indicated diagonally at lower right). Specimens have been offered by John & Dana Achziger in their Catalog #25 (June 1996) and Dalia Miller in her February 1997 auction.

 
A347 Zion National Park - G6/V1?, ed.A

An unusual transitional variant with references to both GAF and VMI corporate ownership is known to exist. Specimens were offered by John & Dana Achziger in their Catalogs #49 (March 1999), #53 (October 1999), and their July 2000 "Quick List."

 
A361 Grand Canyon National Park I - S4

Two versions of the S4 envelope are known, one (earlier?) titled Grand Canyon I and the other Packet One - Grand Canyon.

 
A364 Oak Creek Canyon - G1/G2, ed.B

The "B" edition is also known to have been produced with VMI indicia on the reverse. Specimens were offered by John & Dana Achziger in their Catalogs #37 & #39 (December 1997 & February 1998).

 
A366 Phoenix & Arizona's Valley of the Sun - S6?

Reels A3661/A3662/A3663 with Sawyer's indicia are known, though it is quite possible they were only ever issued in envelopes with the GAF rather than Sawyer's imprint (e.g. G1/G2 rather than S6).

 
A412 Six Flags Over Texas I - S5, ed.A

This S5 variant with an edition mark likely was produced on the cusp of the conversion from S5 to S6 style envelopes. Highly unusual, especially considering the earliest S6 envelopes often did not bear edition marks.

 
A485 South Dakota - S3, SDAK-1/-2/-3 ©1954

In addition to the normal unnumbered S3 variant, an unusual envelope design is known with the packet number A485 printed (not rubber-stamped) on the reverse.

 
A456 St. Louis Riverfront & Jefferson National Expansion Memorial G3, eds.B&C

John Saddy has discovered the cover images on these two packets, while at first glance identical, are actually individual left/right views and together comprise a stereo scene.

 
A486 Black Hills & Badlands National Monument - S4

Two versions of the S4 envelope are known, an earlier version with the title "Black Hills - Badlands" and a later one titled "Black Hills & Badlands National Monument." The textual description of packet contents to the right of the cover photograph also varies, notably "Devil's Tower" and "Vampire Peak" are missing from the later envelope, though the contents of both packets are identical.

Speculation: this packet was issued at approximately the same time that mid-1950s public concern about juvenile delinquency gave rise to the Comics Code Authority, a self-censorship entity for comic book publishers similar to the Hays Office in the motion picture industry. The Code specifically prohibited references to and depiction of vampires, demons, and other occult creatures. Given a similar target market, perhaps Sawyer's chose to follow the example of the comic book industry and delete such references from (at least) the exterior of View-Master packets.

 
A493 Flintstones Bedrock City, Custer - V2 ("5099")

An unusual V1/V2 variant with a numeric, blisterpack-style packet number is known. A specimen was offered by John Saddy in his auction #00VM-4 (September 2000).

 
A511 Minnesota State Parks - S3/S5 hybrid

In addition to the normal S3 variant, an unusual envelope design is known with an S3 front (no packet number in the circle at upper right) and an S5 back (packet number indicated diagonally at lower right). Apecimens have been offered by John & Dana Achziger in their December 1999 "Quick List" and John Saddy in his auction #VM01-1 (March 2001).

 
A552 Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago - S5

In addition to an authentic S5 packet, another "S5" variant is known which was manufactured during GAF's ownership of View-Master; tell-tale clues include GAF-style perforations along the folds of the packet envelope and GAF-issue reels within. Possibly this is the result of a need to quickly fill an order from the Museum itself, leaving no time to re-design the envelope front.

 
A650 New York - S3, NY-1/-2/-3 ©1956

In addition to the normal unnumbered and rubber-stamped S3 variants, an unusual envelope design is known with an S3 front and the packet number A650 printed on the back. A specimen was offered by John Saddy in his auction #00VM-4 (September 2000).

 
A635-X Independence National Historic Park

An English language packet. The "X" suffix usually denotes a Spanish language edition, but in this case its significance is unknown; the 3 reels also carry the suffix. Specimens were offered by John Saddy in his Auctions #96VM-1 (March 1996) & #96VM-4 (October 1996) and by John & Dana Achziger in their June 2000 "Quicklist."

 
A683 Old Fort Niagara, Youngstown - G1/G2, ed.A

An unusual variant is known with an uppercase GAF logo in a G1/G2 style bar on the envelope front and a G6 style envelope back.

 
A700 New Hampshire - S3/S5 hybrid

In addition to the normal S3 variant, an unusual envelope design is known with an S3 front (no packet number in the circle at upper right) and an S5 back (packet number indicated diagonally at lower right). Specimens have been offered by John & Dana Achziger in their Catalogs #43 (June 1998) & #53 (October 1999) and John Saddy in his auction #00VM-3 (September 2000).

 
A715 Maine - S3/S5 hybrid

An unusual envelope design is known with an S3 front (no packet number in the circle at upper right) and an S5 back (packet number indicated diagonally at lower right). A specimen was offered by John Saddy in his Auction #99VM-3 (August 1999).

 
A760 New Jersey - S6b, w/o ed. (w/booklet)

An unusual S6b variant which is not a State Tour Series map-front design is known to exist; the packet also is known in some cases to contain reels NJ-1/-2/-3.

 
A780 Maryland - S3/S5 hybrid

An unusual envelope design is known with an S3 front (no packet number in the circle at upper right) and an S5 back (packet number indicated diagonally at lower right). A specimen was offered by John Saddy in his Auction #99VM-3 (August 1999).

 
A810 Virginia - G1, ed.A

This early GAF variant of the Virginia title is known to have been issued with edition "A" indicated on the packet envelope, despite the prior existence of a Sawyer's edition "B." Nevertheless, the reels within are edition "B."

 
A811 Shenandoah National Park - S4

In addition to the normal S4 variant, a generic packet envelope is known with the title displayed where a photograph or line drawing normally would appear. Thanks to Pennsylvania collector Joe Hohmann for documenting this unusual specimen.

 
A848 Kentucky State Parks - G1, ed.A

An unusual G1 variant with the GAF logo against a green, rather than red or black, background is known to exist.

 
A945 Louisiana - S6b, w/o ed.

An unusual S6b variant which is not a State Tour Series map-front design is known to exist.

 
B034 Havana - S4

John Saddy notes this packet probably was issued near the end of S4 style production because the Sawyer's blue diamond logo appears on the reverse of the envelope.

 
B036 Virgin Islands - S5

Some specimens of the S5 variant are known with perforations along the envelope folds, suggesting the design remained in production into the GAF era. Such envelopes are usually (always?) found containing GAF-issue reels.

 
B037 Curaçao - S5

Some specimens of the S5 variant are known with perforations along the envelope folds, suggesting the design remained in production into the GAF era. Such envelopes are usually (always?) found containing GAF-issue reels.

 
B039 Puerto Rico - S6, w/o ed.

An unusual S6 variant is known which lacks the Sawyer's blue diamond logo within the white oval on the envelope front.

 
B049 Caracas - S6, w/o ed.

An unusual S6 variant is known which lacks the Sawyer's blue diamond logo within the white oval on the envelope front.

 
B058 Rio de Janeiro - S6a, w/o ed.

An unusual S6 variant is known which lacks the Sawyer's blue diamond logo within the white oval on the envelope front.

 
B244 Burma - S5 (w/o booklet)

An anachronistic S5 variant issued in the GAF era is known with tell-tale perforations in the fold of the top flap, containing reels bearing the GAF imprint and lacking a booklet.

 
B252 Island of Bali - S5 (w/o booklet)

An anachronistic S5 variant issued in the GAF era is known with tell-tale perforations in the fold of the top flap, containing reels bearing the GAF imprint and lacking a booklet.

 
B314 Jack & the Beanstalk / The Ugly Duckling / Hansel & Gretel

Reel B3143, Hansel & Gretel, is known to have been issued singly.

 
B371 Robin Hood

"B371" is known to be rubber-stamped on the reverse of the S3 packet, but it may never have been issued as a numbered S4 or later packet.

 
B464 Buffalo Bill, Jr.

"B464" is known to be rubber-stamped on the reverse of the S3 packet, but it may never have been issued as a numbered S4 or later packet.

 
B471 Bonanza

Reel 1, scene 1 is well-known among collectors; Ben, Adam, Hoss, & Little Joe Cartwright are seen making a surreptitious rude gesture.

 
B474 Lassie & Timmy - S5 (w/booklet) & G3, ed.A ©1958 (w/booklet)

The single reel B4721 is known to have been used in place of the normal second reel B4742 in these packets, though the other two reels are the usual B4741 & B4743. Johnny Achziger reports, however, that the S4 packet contains the expected B4741, B4742, & B4743 reels.

 
B487 Bonanza - G3, ed.A ©1971 (w/booklet)

This packet is different from B471; based on later episodes of the television series, it does not feature actor Pernell Roberts.

 
B488 The Green Hornet - S6b, w/o ed. (w/booklet)

Although there is no known edition "B" packet envelope, reels B4882 & B4883 with a "B" edition mark are known.

 
B516 Popeye - S5 (w/booklet)

A reproduction S5 variant of this title was re-issued in summer 1999 as part of a limited-edition gift set to commemorate the 60th anniversary of View-Master.

 
B528 Mickey Mouse - S3 (Belgian issue, w/booklet)

An unusual envelope design is known with an S3 front (no packet number in the circle at upper right) and the packet number B528 printed on the back. A specimen was offered by John Saddy in his auction #00VM-2 (April 2000).

 
B536 Peanuts - S6b, ed.A (w/booklet)

Two different envelope covers are known in the S6b variant:

 
B541 Max und Moritz

An envelope is known on which "und" is overprinted with "and" in the title and "Reels and story booklet with English text" is added. Unknown if this is the Sawyer's- or GAF-era envelope. Reels and booklet in English are unconfirmed. A specimen was offered by John Saddy in his auction #01VM-1 (March 2001).

 
B613 Battle of the Monsters from "The Animal World"

"B613" is known to be rubber-stamped on the reverse of the S3 packet, but it may never have been issued as a numbered S4 or later packet.

 
B657 America's Man in Space

A reel numbered B6579 with the title "America's Man in Space, Project Mercury, Reel Two" is known to exist, with some scenes different from those on B6572. In what context this reel was offered, however, is unknown.

 
B657-E America's Man in Space - S5 (Belgian issue)

Two versions of this S5 envelope are known, in which the lettering of the words "Man in Space" varies slightly.

 
B658 Man on the Moon: NASA's Project Apollo

An "odd missing link" transitional S5-to-S6 variant was offered by John Saddy in his Auction #95VM-4 (September 1995).

 
B700 F.B.I. Agent - S5 ©1962 (w/booklet)

Two different captions in reel 1, scene 7 are known:

In a detailed article about this packet in the Winter 1996 issue of INSIDE 3-D (v.2, #3), Roger Nazeley speculates this change may have been made at the request of the F.B.I. to avoid characterizing the Bureau as a paramilitary agency.

 
B721 Riders of the Desert

"B721" is known to be rubber-stamped on the reverse of the S3 packet, but the title may never have been issued as a numbered S4 or later packet.

 
B773 Airplanes of the World - G1, ed.A

The edition "A" booklet in known to be misnumbered as "B774."

 
B780 Coronation of Queen Elisabeth II - S4 (Belgian issue?)

This apparently is an early S4 variant, since the envelope indicates reels 405/406/407 despite having an alphanumeric packet number. It probably was in production only a short time because the name of the monarch is misspelled (as "Elisabeth," vs. "Elizabeth"). One specimen was offered by John Saddy in his auction #00VM-1 (March 2000).

 
B785 World's Fair, Brussels 1958 (Belgian issue)
B786 World's Fair, Brussels 1958: Pavilions of the Nations (U.S. or Belgian issue)
B787 World's Fair, Brussels 1958: "Gay Belgium" (U.S. or Belgian issue)
B788 World's Fair, Brussels 1958: General Sections (U.S. or Belgian issue)
B789 World's Fair, Brussels 1958: International Sections (U.S. or Belgian issue)

This range of numbers for the 1958 Brussels World Fair titles appears in Sawyer's reel lists from the S3-S4 transitional period (and may have been rubber-stamped on the reverse of the S3 packets, though this is unconfirmed), but they likely were never issued as numbered S4 or later packets.

 
C003 Classical Greece - S6b (Belgian issue?)

Known to have been issued with single reels #2157 and/or #2159 in place of, respectively, C0031 and/or C0032.

 
C129 French Switzerland - S6a (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reel #2021 in place of C1292.

 
C130/C130-E St. Moritz - Davos - Klosters - S6 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reel #2017-K in place of C1301.
Known to have been issued with single reels #2016-K & #2017-K in place of C1301 & C1302.

 
C133 Lake Geneva - S6a (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reel #2028 in place of C1333.

 
C134 Lake Lucerne - S6 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reel #2014-K in place of C1341.

 
C174 The Palace of Versailles - S3/S5 hybrid

In addition to the normal S4 variant, an unusual envelope design is known with a blank circle at upper right and an S5 back (packet number indicated diagonally at lower right).

 
C184 Lourdes & the Pyrénées - S3/S5 hybrid

In addition to the normal S3 variant, an unusual envelope design is known with an S3 front (no packet number in the circle at upper right) and an S5 back (packet number indicated diagonally at lower right).

 
C185 Nice & the Riviera - S5

The S5 variant is known to have been issued as an unnumbered envelope with reels #1424-A, 1424-B, & 1426.

 
C186 Cannes & the Riviera - S5 (Belgian issue)

The S5 variant is known to have been issued as an unnumbered envelope with reels #1425-K, 1472, & C1862.

 
C186/C186-E Cannes & the Riviera - S6a (Belgian issue)

The S6a variant is known to have been issued with single reel #1472 in place of C1861.

 
C187 Coast Road of the Riviera - S5 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with no packet number indicated on the envelope; instead, the contents (single reels #1427, 1429, & 1471) were listed on the envelope back.

 
C191 Bretagne, la Côte Atlantique - S6a (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with revised reels of which the images do not match textual descriptions on the reverse of the S6a envelope.

 
C278 The Isle of Man - GAF tri-fold (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with no packet number indicated on the exterior of the folder.

 
C285 Cornwall - S6 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reel #1050 in place of C2851.

 
C286 Devon - S6 (Belgian issue)

A scarce packet known to have been issued with reel C2861 and single reels #1041 & #1054. Apparently superseded by packet C294.

 
C292 Brighton to Hastings - S6 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reels #1048 & #1049 in place of C2921 & C2922.

 
C295/C295-E London Pageantry - S6 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reels #1007 & #1008 in place of C2951 & C2952.

 
C388/C388-E Amsterdam - S6 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reel #1905-B in place of C3883.

 
C389-E Round the Zuiderzee - S6 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reel #1900 in place of C3891.

 
C410 The Black Forest - S3 (Belgian issue?)

In addition to the normal unnumbered S3 variant, an unusual envelope design is known with the packet number C410 printed (not rubber-stamped) on the reverse.

 
C423-D Oberbayern - S6a (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with reel C4232 and single reels #1511 & #1512-B.

 
C427(-D?) Ostseebäder und Fehmarn - S6a (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with reels C4272 & C4273 and single reel #1549.

 
C492 Bergen & Towns of Western Norway - S6b (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reels #2065, #2067, & #2070.

 
C513 Midsummer in Dalecarlia - S6a (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with reel C5131 and single reels #2115 & #2116.

 
C514 Skåne - S6b (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with reel C5141 and single reels #2128 & #2130.

 
C536 Turku and Its Castle - S6a (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with reel C5361 and single reels #2603 & #2605.

 
C541 Hämeenlinna to Aulanko - S6b (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with reels C5411 & C5413 and single reel #2610.

 
C648 Vienna - S6 (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with single reels #2325 or #2326 in place of C6481 or C6482.

 
C649-D Winter in Tirol - S6b (Belgian issue)

Known to have been issued with reel #2330 in place of C6493.

 

20 January 2003
The View-Master Ultimate Reel List is maintained by and © Keith Baird.
"View-Master" is ®Fisher-Price Incorporated, a subsidiary of Mattel Incorporated.