1932
In 1932, the Godfrey Phillips Ltd. company in England issued a series of 25 trading cards entitled “PERSONALITIES OF TO-DAY”. These cards, measuring 3.49cm x 6.67cm, feature full-colour caricatures of celebrities of the time, including actors, political figures and other personalities. This collection is a true treasure for fans of cultural history and cinema. But what makes these cards so special? 8 of the 25 characters represented are actors. This detail reveals how much cinema was the center of attention during the 1930s. The public was fascinated by Hollywood stars and new talkies. The cards offer us a unique look at the celebrities of the time, capturing the essence of these cinematic icons. Created by an anonymous artist, these color caricatures are a mix of humor and sophistication, although he has not marked the faces of the celebrities, you have to focus on the details to be able to recognize the character. Every feature, every expression, transports us back in time, when cinema was in full evolution and celebrities shone like stars in the night sky. The “PERSONALITIES OF TO-DAY” cards give us an interesting look at celebrities and personalities of the time. They are a bridge between the past and the present, representing a precious piece of history linked not only to cinema but to the general popular culture of the 1930s.
1934
The Stars of the Screen series is a collection of 54 tobacco cards produced by Godfrey Phillips in 1934. The cards depict famous movie stars of the 1930s, from different countries and film genres. The cards are very beautiful, with colorful portraits in oval and elaborate frames, reminiscent of the art deco style of the time. On the back of the cards there is a brief description of the star and his or her films, with some anecdotes and curiosities. The series is considered one of the most beautiful among the British issues of tobacco cards dedicated to cinema, both for the quality of the images and for the variety of the stars chosen. The cards are highly sought after by collectors and fans of classic cinema, as they represent a historical and artistic document of a golden age of world cinema. Among the stars in the series there are famous names such as Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn, but also stars less known to the general public, such as Helen Twelvetrees, Sidney Fox and Phillips Holmes. Some stars are still considered icons of cinema, such as Jean Harlow, Mae West and Gary Cooper, while others have fallen into oblivion, such as Marilyn Miller, Nancy Carroll and Evelyn Brent. Some stars have had a long and brilliant career, such as John Barrymore, Ronald Colman and Irene Dunne, while others have died prematurely, such as Carole Lombard, Jeanette MacDonald and Karen Morley. Some stars have starred in memorable films, such as Myrna Loy in Dinner for Schmucks, Constance Bennett in Topper and Miriam Hopkins in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, while others have had minor or unlucky roles, such as Lois Moran in Sunrise, Dorothy Sebastian in Our Dancing Daughters and Lupe Velez in The Girl from Mexico. The Stars of the Screen series is a testimony of the passion and fantasy that cinema aroused in the public of the 1930s, and offers a glimpse of a culture and a society in rapid evolution. The cards are an invitation to rediscover the stars and films of that era, and to enjoy the charm and talent of these timeless artists.
1938
CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE is one of the many series of collectible cards, created by GODFREY PHILLIPS LTD which portray famous actors and actresses in the role of the characters who made some films of the time famous. In the series we can admire Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer in the roles of Romeo and Juliet, Henry Wilcoxon and Loretta Young as Richard I and Berengaria in the 1935 film The Crusades, the magnificent Cleopatra played by Claudette Colbert, and many other main or secondary characters, such as John Barrymore as Mercutio, again in Romeo and Juliet or Desmond Tester in the role of Edward VI in the 1936 film Tudor Rose. The 36 postcards printed in 1938 present color drawings based on real half-length photographs of the actors, which they create a realistic and suggestive effect. The postcards are almost square in shape, measuring 5.2cm by 6cm, unlike other series which are more rectangular in size. The cards are highly sought after by collectors and cinema enthusiasts, because they represent a golden era of the seventh art and popular culture. If you want to see the complete series, just click on the symbol under the year. If you want to know more, click on the word "further information".