Cigarette cards
Cigarette cards first emerged in the US in 1875. Cards issued by the US-based tobacco company Allen and Ginter depicted actresses, baseball players, Indian chiefs, and boxers. Becoming instantly popular, other tobacco companies in the US and Uk quickly followed suit, soon making them a worldwide phenomena. Cigarette cards were issued in sets typically consisting of 25, 50 or 100 cards relating to a subject or theme. Themes concentrated on all aspects of sport, leisure, entertainment and general interest. Popular themes included actresses, sports players, nature and military to cite but a few. Today sports and military historians study these cards to study uniform design for example.
'Home from the War'
published by Ogden's
July 1900, published 1900-1907
NPG x44648
Charlie Chaplin
by Alexander ('Alick') Penrose Forbes Ritchie
1926
NPG D2662
Aga Khan III (Mohammed Shah)
by Alexander ('Alick') Penrose Forbes Ritchie
1926
NPG D2651
Rudyard Kipling
by Alexander ('Alick') Penrose Forbes Ritchie
1926
NPG D2673
Augustus John
by Alexander ('Alick') Penrose Forbes Ritchie
1926
NPG D2671
Sir Harry Lauder
by Alexander ('Alick') Penrose Forbes Ritchie
1926
NPG D2675
George Tryon, 1st Baron Tryon
by Tom Cottrell
1929
NPG D2639
Sir (Howard) Kingsley Wood
by Tom Cottrell
1929
NPG D2840
G.K. Chesterton
by Unknown artist, issued by Godfrey Phillips
1932
NPG D2723
Al Jolson
by Unknown artist, issued by Godfrey Phillips
1932
NPG D2721
(Thomas Stange Heiss) Oscar Asche as Abu Hasan in 'Chu Chin Chow'
by Unknown artist, issued by Godfrey Phillips
1932
NPG D2712
Jimmy McGrory
after Unknown artist
published 1934
NPG D8790