WORLD CUP FINAL PROGRAMME 1966 - Is mine an original?

Posted: 23 Jun 2022

This is a valuable item and care needs to be made in a purchase, as many reprint versions are being sold as original.

Although there are a few ways to identify the genuine article, the best in my opinion is to simply weigh the programme.

The original issue weighs 130 grams, the reprints are significantly lighter at under 100 grams. The original has staples exactly one half inch long.

Other factors are important if you are viewing online.

The rear cover has an advert for "Cadets" cigarettes, the stripe on the packet should be red not orange.

The centre pages with the team line-ups there is an advert for Slazenger Footballs, you should be able to read the writing clearly.

Page 4 has a picture of the Earl of Harwood, his tie has a pattern on the original, in the reprint it is dark.

The price varies according to condition for a good one expect to be paying about £180. For slightly sub-standard (team line-ups completed for instance) you might get away below £150, but not much below. You can buy the reprint for as little as £5-£10 from a good dealer.

Take care with your purchase, I always ask them to weigh the item, if they will not give me the weight I walk away, better safe than sorry.

Enjoy collecting but be wary.