1934
The "Modern Movie Stars & Cinema Celebrities" cigarette card series was issued by Teofani & Co. Ltd. in 1934 in England. These collectible cards were distributed as inserts in cigarette packs and are in black and white. Each card measures approximately 3.97 cm x 6.51 cm, and the series comprises a total of 48 unnumbered cards. This series is particularly interesting because it also exists in other versions, all of which are brown, whereas the Teofani cards are black and white. The other versions include those issued by Louis Gerard, Premier, and Hill, with titles such as "Screen Favourites and Dancers," "Eminent Stage & Screen Personalities," and "Film Stars & Celebrity Dancers." The cards feature some of the greatest movie stars of the 1930s, such as Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, and many others. In addition to famous actresses, the series also includes some dancers from that period, offering a fascinating glimpse into the celebrities and dance talents of the era.
1936
This is a series of 12 cards from Teofani & Co Ltd, a company founded in 1880 in London that became famous for the high quality of the Turkish tobacco used for its cigarettes. Printed in 1936, these cards are in black and white, measure about 3.2 cm x 5.7 cm and depict some of the most famous movie actors and actresses of the time, such as Greta Garbo, Maurice Chevalier and Joan Crawford. The cards are unnumbered and have no printing on the back, which makes them more rare and sought after by collectors. This series was also issued in France by M. V. Albert, a French cigarette company, but the French cards are printed on the back and are slightly different in size and paper quality. The images on the cards are the same in both series, and show the smiling and charming faces of the cinema stars of the 30s. This series is a piece of cinema and popular culture history, and deserves to be admired and appreciated.