1916
The 1916 “Past & Present” series from John Player & Sons is a small treasure trove of theatrical iconography: 25 chromolithograph cards (3.5 × 6.7 cm) tucked into cigarette packs, each featuring a color illustration of the actor in their most celebrated role and a brief biographical sketch on the back. Among the most iconic figures: • Sir Henry Irving as Mephistopheles in Faust A pioneer of modern theatre and the first British actor to be made a baronet for his dramatic achievements, famed for his intense performances and spectacular Lyceum productions. • Ellen Terry as Marguerite in Faust Queen of the Victorian stage, unforgettable Shakespeare interpreter (Ophelia, Juliet) and Irving’s ideal partner, combining grace with deep pathos. • Sir Herbert Tree as Svengali in Trilby Founder of His Majesty’s Theatre, renowned for grand-scale productions and for launching rising stars. • Sir Squire Bancroft as Captain Hawtree in Caste Master of character comedy, celebrated for his naturalistic style and for bringing authentic bourgeois drama to the stage. • Gerald du Maurier as Raffles Son of illustrator George du Maurier and father of Daphne, he ruled the London stage with aristocratic elegance and wry humour. Fun fact: in 1903 he asked Peter Jackson Ltd. for a smoother cigarette that wouldn’t irritate his throat—hence the launch of the Du Maurier brand, even though he reportedly never smoked them. • Gladys Cooper in My Lady’s Dress Then a young rising star in her first great success; she would later conquer Broadway and Hollywood, earning three Oscar nominations. These cards are far more than mere photographs: they’re little painted tableaux and biographical capsules that whisk us back to the golden age of theatre, when stars shone like rock icons and every curtain call was a momentous event.
1934
This series of collectible cards is dedicated to the movie stars of the 1930s. It is the FILM STARS (SILVER) series by JOHN PLAYER & SONS, one of the most famous cigarette manufacturers in the United Kingdom. These cards are part of one of the three series of collectible cards dedicated to movie stars, produced by John Player & SONS in 1934. The other two series are the FILM STARS First Series and the FILM STARS Second Series, composed of 50 cards each, with color images and smaller dimensions. The cards in the SILVER series are instead 25, and have some particular characteristics that make them unique and fascinating. First of all, the cards in the SILVER series are larger than the other two series, measuring about 8.5 x 5.5 cm. In addition, the images of the stars are made with a metallic silver effect, which makes them bright and suggestive. The images are based on original photographs, and are accompanied by the name of the star and the logo of John Player & Sons. On the back of the cards, there is a descriptive text that tells the biography, career and most famous films of the star. The cards were distributed together with the cigarettes of John Player & SONS, and could be glued in a special album, which also contained the biographies of the stars. The twenty-five stars present, are some of the most famous and admired of the cinema of the 1930s, both American and European. Among these, we find Elizabeth Allan, an English actress who starred in films such as David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities and Camille; Lionel Barrymore, an American actor and director, winner of the Oscar for A Free Soul, and known for his role as Mr. Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life; Wallace Beery, an American actor, winner of the Oscar for The Champ, and famous for his roles in films such as Viva Villa!, Treasure Island and Dinner at Eight; Elisabeth Bergner, an Austrian actress naturalized British, nominated for the Oscar for The Rise of Catherine the Great, and considered one of the greatest theater actresses of her time, and many other famous stars who have marked the history of cinema and popular culture. The FILM STARS series by JOHN PLAYER & SONS is a testimony of the history of cinema and society of the 1930s, a piece of collection, that for the fans of movie memorabilia cannot miss. If you want to see the complete series you just have to click on the symbol under the year if instead you want to know more click on the words “Read more”.