1923
Bucktrout & Co. Ltd., a historic company based in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, was founded in 1830 by William Cadic, an enterprising Breton. The company began its operations at the "Three Tuns" tavern near the Town Church of Guernsey, quickly becoming a key hub for the island’s economy. In 1866, William Cadic sold his thriving business to Thomas Bucktrout of Boston Spa, who, together with his right-hand man George Samuel Wheadon, continued to expand the company. During this period, Bucktrout & Co. Ltd. established itself as a major supplier of tobacco, cigars, and beverages, exporting products worldwide. One of the most fascinating productions of Bucktrout & Co. Ltd. is the "Cinema Stars (OMBI)" collectible card series from 1923. This series consisted of 50 cards, each depicting a movie star of the time, printed in black and white with a sepia tone. The cards, measuring 5.08 cm x 6.35 cm, were included in cigarette packages. The series provided an intriguing snapshot of cinematic culture and tobacco marketing of that era. Among the featured movie stars were renowned names such as Stewart Rome, Dorothy Gish, Mae Marsh, Louise Lovely, Viola Dana, Betty Blythe, Bessie Love, Alice Joyce, Shirley Mason, Violet Hopson, Theda Bara, Francesca Bertini, Enid Bennett, Marguerite Clark, Geraldine Farrar, Dorothy Dalton, Mary Pickford, Pauline Frederick, Lillian Gish, Mary Miles Minter, Alla Nazimova, Anna Q. Nilsson, Mabel Normand, Constance Talmadge, Mary Johnson, Norma Talmadge, Pearl White, Clara Kimball Young, Sessue Hayakawa, Antonio Moreno, Eddie Polo, Richard Barthlemess, Douglas Fairbanks, Nigel Barrie, Charles Chaplin, Victor Seastrom, Harry Carey, William Farnum, William S. Hart, Eddie Lyons, William Russell, Tom Moore, Lee Moran, Thomas Meighan, Douglas Maclean, Tom Mix, Bryant Washburn, Charles Ray, Wallace Reid, and Anita Stewart. Beyond the first series, likely in the same year or the following one, Bucktrout & Co. Ltd. released a second series of "Cinema Stars (OMBI)" cards, continuing to celebrate the movie stars of the time.