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.

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'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

Al Jolson
by Unknown artist, issued by Godfrey Phillips
1932
NPG D2721

Jimmy McGrory
after Unknown artist
published 1934
NPG D8790

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