These cards were packed in boxes of Washington Crisps, a breakfast cereal consisting of toasted corn flakes
 (making Burdick’s original American Card Catalogue “D” bakery designation inappropriate). 

Each copyrighted card contains one or more numbered cut-out toys associated with various Mother Goose stories
 which are identified by number and title printed on back. 

The American Card Catalog states that the set totals 51 cards, which likely refers to the notation found on
 individual cards that “there are 51 different characters to complete Mother Gooseland. 

A different character in every 51 packages of Washington Crisps”. 
However, a promotional paper cap also exists that advertises the set and states that
 “there are 51 different toys in the different packages...”. 
Since individual cut-out toys numbering above #51 exist (the highest number seen to date is “No. 100”), 
it would seem more likely that the set actually totals 51 cards. 
This promotional cap also identifies one of the likely reasons why cards seem so scarce. 
In addition to the fact that the cards were meant to be cut out and used as toys, the cap states that
 “the first boy or girl in this city who gets the complete collection of toys and takes them to
 his or her grocer will receive $5.00 in gold and the next five children will receive a $1.00 each.” 
This probably resulted in extreme hoarding and loss of large groups of cards (either from redemption, 
which would be doubtful, or simply over time, due to clutter-cleansing mothers who ultimately
 discarded them after holding onto the cards in the hopeless pursuit of a complete collection). 

Furthermore, this promotion and the odd set size of 51, suggest that one card 
is likely extremely short-printed in order to limit the chances of prize redemption. 
The “gold” promotion was advertised to expire on October 1st, 1919, suggesting the cards
 were likely issued over a fairly considerable length of time. Cards seen thus far vary considerably 
in size from 74 x 63-375 mm. Card fronts advertise that the “ground plan of Mother Gooseland”
 (presumably some type of map) could be obtained for four cents. Since cards may contain 
non-sequential toy numbers, they are grouped on the checklist according to the lowest number
 (despite the fact that cards may contain toys from different series). (ACC# D91)