1928
In 1928, Carreras Ltd. released a series of 25 cigarette cards featuring actresses from the Christie Film Company, known as the Christie Comedy Girls. These small, colorful cards, inserted into cigarette packs, offered the public an instant way to learn about and collect the faces of the leading female slapstick stars. The series included actresses such as Gayle Lloyd, June Manners, Edna Marion, Lorraine Eddy, Caryl Lincoln, Doris Dawson, Vera Steadman, Helen Cox, Ann Christy, Ann Cornwall, Jeanne Williams, and Frances Lee. Some names are repeated several times—particularly Gayle Lloyd, Vera Steadman, and June Manners—demonstrating their centrality and the powerful appeal they held with the public. Alongside them, there are also generic cards dedicated to the "Christie Girls," celebrating the group as a whole. Each figurine was a glamorous portrait, designed to highlight the actresses' elegance and vivacity, but also to immortalize in the collective imagination the face of a female comedian who was gaining ground in a genre previously dominated by men. Collecting them meant not only following the fashions of the time, but also participating in a cultural phenomenon that intertwined cinema, marketing, and everyday life. Today, this series is considered a precious testimony: a tangible fragment of the history of silent cinema and 1920s pop culture, capable of capturing the smiles and elegance of the Christie Comedy Girls almost a century later.
1930
In the context of our collection of cinema-related trading cards, we have chosen to include the 1930 series The Black Cat Game of Alice in Wonderland, produced by Carreras Ltd., even though it is not, at least formally, associated with any specific film. The reason is simple: this collection is rooted in one of the most adapted and celebrated narrative worlds in the history of cinema. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is not only a literary masterpiece by Lewis Carroll—it is a universe that has inspired dozens of cinematic interpretations, from silent film to sound, and continues to be reimagined to this day. The game created by Carreras, distributed in Black Cat cigarette packs, fits naturally into this cultural and visual trajectory. Though intended for a young audience, the game was included with an adult product, reflecting a marketing philosophy very different from today’s standards. The complete series consists of 48 illustrated cards, divided into 16 numbered sets of three cards each. Every set is dedicated to a character or scene from the world of Alice, such as the White Rabbit, the Mock Turtle, the Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts. One of the three cards in each set is the so-called Leading Card, which acts as a guide and lists the other two cards in the group to be sought during gameplay. The illustrations, crisp and colorful, recall the style of John Tenniel’s famous engravings but are graphically reinterpreted to match the aesthetic of the game. As confirmed by the original instructions—recovered through digital sources—the game was designed to be interactive and competitive. The rules called for the cards to be dealt face-down to all players, each of whom could examine their hand and set aside any complete sets. Players would then take turns revealing a Leading Card and requesting a specific card from their opponents to complete the set. If the opponent possessed the requested card, they were required to give it up. Once the set was completed, the player could continue with another Leading Card; if not, the turn passed to the next player. The winner was the one who completed the greatest number of sets during the course of the game. One distinctive feature of the game was the handling of penalties, known as forfeits, which added a layer of strategy and unpredictability. For instance, if a player didn’t have a Leading Card during their turn, they had to give up a card to the last active player. Only one Leading Card could be in play at a time, which meant participants had to complete each set before introducing another. What’s particularly notable is that although this collection isn’t explicitly tied to cinema, it anticipates many characteristics of visual storytelling merchandise. Its straightforward rules, vivid imagery, and strong connection to the literary universe of Alice demonstrate how effectively storytelling and commercial promotion could merge. Including this series in our cinema-themed collection is entirely justified: Alice is a tale that has transcended generations and media, and this game represents a meaningful chapter in the history of visual collecting. It forms a bridge between literature, marketing, and film—earning its place alongside actor figurines and promotional cards from classic movies.
1935
The Famous Film Stars series, published in England by Carreras Ltd. in 1935, represents one of the most complete and fascinating iconographic repertoires dedicated to the cinema of Hollywood's golden age. The 96 cards, printed in color and distributed as inserts in cigarette packs, measure approximately 3.3 × 6.5 cm and offer an extraordinary visual panorama of the stars who, in the 1930s, were defining the global cinematic imagination. Actresses such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Jean Harlow, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, and Joan Crawford coexist with international stars like Anna May Wong, Dolores Del Rio, and Lillian Harvey. There are also child icons like Shirley Temple and Jackie Cooper, as well as famous screen couples, from Myrna Loy and William Powell to Laurel and Hardy. The series is also known for the presence of six variants, now highly sought after by collectors, which involve differences in orientation, costumes, or illustrated backs in issues 5, 11, 67, 68, 86, and 96. The collection represents not just a catalog of faces, but a true historical document: a compendium of the studios' promotional aesthetic, the visual taste of the era, and the global diffusion of Hollywood stardom through everyday objects such as cigarette cards. Even today, this collection remains a valuable source for scholars, collectors, and film history enthusiasts, capable of immediately evoking the luminous and constructed atmosphere of pre-war cinema.
1936
The "Film Stars by Florence Desmond" series is a series of cigarette cards produced by Carreras Ltd in 1936. The series consists of 50 cards featuring images of famous movie stars of the time, such as Leslie Howard, Myrna Loy, Fred Astaire, Grace Moore and Robert Donat. The cards are described by English comedian and impersonator Florence Desmond and are standard size. To see the complete series, click on further information, or on the symbol immediately below the year of the series.
1937
If you are passionate about cinema, you cannot miss the collection of cigarette cards produced by Carreras in 1937 entitled FILM STARS. It is a series of 54 cards that portray the most famous and glamorous actresses of the Golden Age of Hollywood in black and white photographs. Among the actresses featured in the series are Nancy Carroll, Inez Howard, Mary Adams, Lupe Velez, Carole Lombard and many others. Cards are 69mm x 36mm in size and are considered collectors items. They are a unique and rare piece that bears witness to the history of cinema and popular culture of the 20th century. To see the complete series, click on further information, or on the symbol immediately below the year of the series.
1938
If you are a cinema lover, you cannot miss the second series of cigarette cards produced by Carreras in 1938 entitled FILM STARS second series. It is a series of 54 cards that portray the most famous and glamorous actresses of the Golden Age of Hollywood in black and white photographs. Among the actresses featured in the series are Betty Grable, Marlene Dietrich, Olivia de Havilland, Joan Crawford, Clara Bow, Alice Faye, Carole Lombard, Claudette Colbert and many others. Cards are 69mm x 36mm in size and are considered collectors items. They are the second series of 54 cards that follows a previous series published in 1937 by Carreras. Among the most interesting cards is the one that portrays Carole Lombard in the same photo that appeared in the previous series, showing her popularity and charm. They are a unique and rare piece that bears witness to the history of cinema and popular culture of the 20th century. To see the complete series, click on further information, or on the symbol immediately below the year of the series.
1938
The series of cigarette cards produced by Carreras in 1938 entitled FILM FAVORITES is a series of 50 cards that portray the movie stars of the time in black and white close-up photographs, but with colored frames of different colors depending on the card . Some of the stars are Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, George Raft, Ronald Colman, Olivia de Havilland, Robert Taylor, Eleanor Powell and others. Cards are 69mm x 36mm in size and are considered collectors items. They are a series of cards that showcase the allure and glamor of silver screen celebrities in vibrant, eye-catching colours. To see the complete series, click on further information, or on the symbol immediately below the year of the series.
1939
The series of cigarette cards produced by Carreras in 1939 entitled GLAMOR GIRLS OF STAGE AND FILM is a series of 54 cards that portray the most beautiful and famous actresses of the cinema and theater of the time in black and white photographs, bold enough for that period. Most are show-girls rather than film actresses, and in many cases where they perform is indicated - seven of them at Rose's Casa Manana, others at Rose's Diamond Horseshoe, Paradise Restaurant, Midnight Sun Cabaret, Fischer's International Casino and Hollywood Restaurant. The cards have a size of 76 x 70mm. 3 other sizes were also issued. They are a series of cards showcasing the allure and glamor of stage and screen divas with striking and captivating portraits. The photos were taken by Murray Korman, a famous advertising photographer who worked in New York. He specialized in portraying the beauties and celebrities of cinema and theater with a glamorous and luminous style. He was considered "the beauty expert of his time" and had two photography studios where he received his clients, including debutantes, socialites and Broadway stars. They are a unique and rare piece that bears witness to the history of cinema and popular culture of the 20th century. To see the complete series, click on further information, or on the symbol immediately below the year of the series.
1939
The series of cigarette cards produced by Carreras in 1939 entitled FILM & STAGE BEAUTIES is a series of 54 cards that portray the most beautiful and famous actresses of cinema and theater of the time in black and white photographs, some of which are quite daring for that period - showing also a hint of stockings and some prominent breasts - and a good number in swimsuits. Among the beauties who flaunt their physical talents are some Hollywood actresses such as Hedy Lamarr, Anita Louise, Merle Oberon and Sonja Henie with their studio (Paramount, Warner Bros. or 20th Century Fox indicated on the back of the cards), but most seem to be stage artists who performed in various nightclubs and cabarets in New York City. Some of these venues were famous for their lavish shows, such as the Hollywood Restaurant, which had a rotating stage and a row of 32 girls; Rose’s Casa Manana, which had a huge dance floor and live music; and the International Casino, which hosted stars like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The cards have a size of 66 x 35mm. These cards are gems for collectors. They express in a unique and extraordinary way the history and popular culture of cinema in the 20th century. To see the complete series click on more information, or on the symbol immediately below the year of the series.
1939
Carreras in 1939 produced a series of cigarette cards called FILM & STAGE BEAUTIES, consisting of 54 cards that show the most beautiful and famous actresses of cinema and theater of that time in black and white photos. Some photos were rather risqué for the time. Among the stars who exhibited their shapes there are some Hollywood divas like Hedy Lamarr, Anita Louise, Merle Oberon and Sonja Henie with the name of their studio (Paramount, Warner Bros. or 20th Century Fox written on the back of the cards), but most were stage artists who performed in various nightclubs and cabarets in New York City. Some of these venues were known for their lavish shows, such as the Hollywood Restaurant, which had a rotating stage and a row of 32 girls; Rose’s Casa Manana, which had a huge dance floor and live music; and the International Casino, which hosted stars like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The cards had two sizes: 66 x 35mm and 70 x 60mm. This text refers to the Large series, that is, the 70 x 60mm cards that were introduced as a gift in the medium packages of BLACK CAT cigarettes. These cards are treasures for collectors. They represent in a unique and extraordinary way the history and popular culture of cinema in the 20th century. To see the complete series click on more information, or on the symbol immediately below the year of the series.
1949
The series of cigarette cards of the TURF CIGARETTES famous film stars is a collection of 50 collectible cards produced in 1949 by Carreras, a famous British tobacco company. Carreras was founded in 1788 by Don José Carreras Ferrer, a Spanish nobleman who moved to London. Carreras became one of the leading tobacco companies in the United Kingdom and launched several brands of cigarettes, including the TURF, the Craven A, the Piccadilly and the Wall Arms. The TURF was a popular brand of cigarettes among smokers of the time and contained in its boxes the collectible cards dedicated to the movie stars, the sportsmen, the animals and other themes. The cards depict some of the most famous actors of the time in their respective roles of the film represented in the card, such as Judy Garland, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Spencer Tracy, Alan Ladd, Bette Davis and many others, in a humorous and ironic way. The cards were drawn by an anonymous artist, who was able to capture the distinctive features and expressions of the faces of the stars, creating funny and original caricatures. The cards are considered among the most interesting and original collectible cards dedicated to the movie stars, as they offer an unusual and witty view of the famous characters. The cards are also historical testimonies of the film culture of the time. The cards were printed on the cigarette packs and therefore had to be cut carefully to be preserved. Each pack of 10 cigarettes contained only one card, while each pack of 20 cigarettes contained two. This made the collection of the cards more difficult and expensive, but also more exciting and challenging. The cards were numbered from 1 to 50 and were white on the back. The cards were very appreciated by smokers and collectors, who exchanged them among themselves. You can see these cards by clicking on the symbol just below the year of the series or on the words “Read More”.