Early 1910′s Movie Stars Mary Pickford Mabel Normand Charlie Chaplin Alma Taylor Trading Cards

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The first ever cigarette card set devoted purely to movie stars, that I’ve found so far, is Cinematograph Actors, issued by Major Drapkin in 1913. I’ll be reviewing my collection of cards from that particular set in a future review.

This set, issued about 1916 by The Girl’s Friend periodical, doesn’t have a series title printed on the backs. Fortunately, it has been retrospectively named as Actresses in trading card literature.

As well as featuring actresses known more for their stage appearances, such as Calarice Maye, Daisy Dormer and Gladys Cooper, the very general title given to this set disguises the fact that it features several pioneering movie stars. One card is devoted to one of the first international movie stars, Mary Pickford. The description on the back of the Pickford card reveals that her latest film is “The Eternal Grind”, which, according to Wikipedia, came out in 1916, revealing the age of this card set. Mabel Normand also appears in this set and was a successful silent film comedienne and one of the film industry’s first female screenwriters, producers and directors. She also played an important part in launching Charlie Chaplin’s career.

This set also features Alma Taylor, who was a major British film star from the 1910s and 1920s and appeared in over 150 films. Despite her prolific film career there seems to be less about her online than her American contemporaries. Prior to WW1, Europe played a significant part in the movie industry but was over taken by the US during the war years.

Whilst the Europeans were consumed with killing each other in a mindless war, the US conquered the movie industry. As Winston Churchill once said, History is written by the victors. The USA wouldn’t just write history, it would broadcast it to the world and still does through the ultimate broadcasting medium, the internet.

Perhaps the European Union is a good thing after all. It’s better than all the thousands of European wars we had before it. I guess the choice is either greed and war or peace and compromise.

The card illustrations in this set were printed on material, often termed Silks in cigarette card circles, and backed with paper. The text on the backs of these material cards encourages the collectors to incorporate them into tea cosies, cushions, chair backs and other needlework projects. Well, these were the days before television, although that was soon about to change.

The Girls Friend (Periodical) , Actresses, circa 1916 (6 cards)

Includes:Clarice Mayne, Daisy Dormer, Mabel Normand, Gladys Cooper, Mary Pickford, Alma Taylor

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1920′s Motorcycles Brough Superior SS100 Exlcelsior Scott Super Squirrel Triumph Norton Cigarette Cards

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This set of 1920’s motorcycle cards was issued when Britain was still a great industrial nation. It includes 1920's bikes from instantly recognisable British motorcycle manufacturers such as Triumph, Norton, Royal Enfield, BSA and AJS.

Many of the early motorcycle manufacturers started out in bicycle production before progressing to motorised versions. Although not all the early firms made it to the 1920s, this set does feature a bike produced by Excelsior, which was the first British company to manufacture motorcycles in 1896. Other early manufacturers include Humber Motorcycles, Matchless and Coventry-Eagle.

Raleigh is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world and is still going today. Even they spent a short period of time expanding into motorcycles, from the 1920s-1930s, but obviously they weren’t as successful at it as they were with their bicycle line. This set also includes motorcycles manufactured by companies normally associated with cars, such as Rover and Sunbeam.

Britain built up a worldwide reputation for quality workmanship. Brough Superior motorcycles were dubbed the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" by H. D. Teague of The Motor Cycle newspaper. Brough Superior boasted prestigious patrons such as T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") and George Bernard Shaw

Velocette, a small family owned business, could not compete against BSA on quantity but were renowned for the quality of their products.

W.D. & H.O. Wills, Motor Cycles, 1926 (50 cards)

Includes:New Gerrard 348 cc Blackburne engine, AJS G. 8, P & M Panther, Ner-A-Car Model C, Chater-Lea 348cc super sports model, Quadrant, Montgomer 986cc, sports model AJR 344cc twin port JAP engine, Elcelsior, 496cc James, 348cc Bradbury, 248cc Raleigh, SS100 Brough Superior, 493cc De Luxe BSA, 498cc Scott Super Squirrel, REX-ACME sports model, Triumph Model P, Connaught Model G, 680 model twin-cylinder Zenith, Velocette, New Imperial Super-Sports overhead valve model 246cc, 342 Sun Villiers lightweight side car outfit, 349cc 1926 model Humber, 497cc Ariel, HRD 490cc JAP , Coventry Eagle Flying 8, 498cc Matchless, Douglas, Grindlay 344cc overhead valve JAP engine, O.K., 300cc J.A.P. engine Carfield, 348cc New Hudson Super Sports Model, Calthrope 348cc, Rover 345cc single cylinder, Royal Enfield Sports Model 346cc, 700cc N.U.T., 247cc Cedos, Cotton, 490cc Overhead valve O.E.C., 499cc Rudge, Diamond 172cc, 499cc long-stroke Sunbeam, 588cc Norton, Radco, Francis-Barnett 172cc two-stroke, 247cc Levis, Dunlet, Omega 345cc JAP engine, Ivy 499cc , Coventry Victor 499cc

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Adolf Hitler Bought Trading Cards of WW2 Battleship HMS Nelson HMS Ark Royal HMS Warspite

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I’ve just been rummaging through some intriguing collectables, some of which will be appearing in future blogs. But in this blog I couldn’t resist showing you this set of WW2 battleship and submarine cards. It looks like an average set at first glance but it hides a tantalising secret. It’s an error set. No, you won’t find any rare printing errors like those found on stamps. In fact, this is a very accurate set and that’s what the problem is.

Hitler thought it was so detailed that he secretly bought up huge quantities of it, pushing its price way above the normal market value and raising the alarm amongst British card dealers. Of course Hitler hadn’t bought them because he’d taken up card collecting, he intended to give these handy and compact cards to his u-boat personnel so that they could identify and destroy British battleships featured. As well as the pictures showing a true likeness, the backs reveal important information such as the weight, speed and even the number of guns on the ships. This would be very useful for those launching the weapons of mass destruction.

This was a huge own goal and a classic example of a cigarette card set slipping through the censorship net. As well as putting the lives of British sailors at risk it also endangered those of our allies, since it features naval craft from the USA, France and Russia.

This set won’t break any records at auction, but it is a great example of how accurate and historically important these miniature cards can be. Maybe your great grandfather or uncle served on one of the battleships or submarines that appear in this set. Please feel free to comment and share your war bedtime stories. I’ve included a list the naval craft that appear in this set.

John Player & Sons, Modern Naval Craft, 1939 (50 cards)

Includes:HMS Nelson,HMS Warspite,HMS Revenge,HMS Hood,HMS Repulse,HMS Exeter,HMS Norfolk,HMS Southampton,HMS Curlew,HMS Adventure,HMS Greenville,HMS Afridi,HMS Severn,HMS Narwhal,HMS Sunfish,HMS Ark Royal,HM Torpedo Boat 102,Dunkerque,Algerie,La Galissonniere, Mogador,Surcouf,Bearn,Admiral Graf Spee,Nurnberg,Georg Thiele,U16,Conte DI Cavour,Bolzano,Giuseppe Garibadi,Libeccio,Giuseppe Finzi,Nagato,ISE,Atago,Kumano,Samidare,I21,Akagi,California,Colorado,Quincy,Broo­klyn,Gridley,Perch,Oahu,Enterprise,Saratoga, Leningrad,Revolutioner

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1970′s Rock Bands Creedence Clearwater Revival Marc Bolan T. Rex Led Zeppelin Mungo Jerry Slade

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Mister Softee, Pop Discs (Pop Stars and Rock Bands), 1972

This set of cards was issued when Glam rock was popular in Britain. It features the man who started it all, Marc Bolan of T Rex. He showed the way for acts such as Slade and Sweet, both of whom are featured in this set. This set includes other great bands, such as Led Zeppelin, Mungo Jerry (famous for the timeless song In “ The Summer Time “ ), Creedence Clearwater Revival, Chicago and many other music acts that would shape the scene in the 1970s and for years to come:

Includes: Marc Bolan (T. Rex), Slade (Noddy Holder, Dave Hill, Jimmy Lee and Don Powell), Rod Stewart (The Faces), Cilla Black, Cat Stevens, Chicago , Peter Noone (Herman of the Hermits), The New Seekers, New World, Alvin Lee, Mungo Jerry (Ray Dorset, Paul King, JOhn Godfrey and Colin Earl), Tremeloes, Tony Blackburn, Creedence Clearwater Revival (Stu Cook, Doug Clifford and John Fogerty), Gilbert O'Sullivan, Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page (Yardbirds), John Paul Jones, John Bonham and Robert Plant), Elton John Cliff Richard, Sweet (Brian Connelly, Mike Tucker, Steve Priest and Andy Scott), Blue Mink (Madeline Bell, Roger Cook, Alan Clark, Barry Morgan, Roger Coulam and Herbie Flowers), Dean Ford (Scottish Band Marmalade), Richard Barnes, Neil Diamond, Maurice Gibbs (The Bee Gees)

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1970's Bands & Pop Stars Led Zeppelin Jethro Tull Marmalade Fleetwood Mac Trading Cards

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Who is your favourite 1970’s band?

Mister Softee’s Lord Neilson Star Discs Trading Card Set (24 Cards)

Includes: Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Marmalade, Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, Donovan, Dave Clark 5, Glen Campbell, Cilla Black, Cliff Richard, Peter Sarstedt, Dusty Springfield, Herman's Hermits, The Tremeloes, Herb Alpert, The Hollies, Mary Hopkin, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Bobbie Gentry

Here’s another great set issued by Mister Softee, who ran a successful fleet of ice cream vans. This set heralds in a new decade, the 1970s. Some of the artists featured in this set would fail to maintain their position at the top of the charts whilst bands like Led Zeppelin would completely transform the shape of music forever, like The Beatles did in the previous decade. The cards in this set are circular and look like the tops of ice cream tubs. The photos and descriptions were compiled by Music Now.

Card #1, Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert was as talented behind the scenes as he was in front of the microphone. He founded the hugely successful A&M Records recording label, which boasts a huge catalogue of mega stars.

Card #2 Marmalade

Marmalade were the first Scottish band to top the UK charts with a cover of the Beatles’ "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da".

Card #3, Mick Jagger

No introduction is necessary for the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, the ultimate die hard rock star. Allmusic described Jagger as "one of the most popular and influential front men in the history of rock & roll".

Card #4, Andy Fairweather-Low

Andy Fairweather-Low was the vocalist and leader of the 1960’s band Amen Corner, which had a number one hit with the song “If Paradise is Half As Nice”. He has continued to tour up until recently with the likes of Eric Clapton.

Card #5, Robin Gibb

This set of cards was issued when Robin Gibb had split from the Bee Gees to pursue a solo career. He didn’t succeed at this and soon rejoined the Bee Gees, who would go on to have phenomenal success in the disco-era of the late 1970s.

Card #6, Donovan

Emerging from British folk scene, Donovan developed a unique style of music, incorporating multiple genres.

Card #7, Dave Clark

Dave Clark was the leader of the group The Dave Clark Five, who scored numerous hits in the 1960s and even challenged the Beatles early on in the British Invasion era. Promoted as a “cleaner” image than the Beatles, the Dave Clark Five were among the first British bands to tour the USA.

Card #8, Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell is a Grammy nominated American country pop singer and guitarist, best known for his 1960’s and 1970’s hits.

Card #9, Cilla Black

After achieving worldwide fame as a 1960’s singer, she went on to become the best paid female presenter in British television history.

Card #10, Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard has sold 260 million records worldwide and is the only singer to have had a number one single in the UK in six consecutive decades.

Card #11, Peter Sarstedt

Peter Sarstedt is a singer-songwriter who is best known for his #1 UK hit “Where Do You Go To My Lovely?”

Card #12, Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield is a true 1960’s icon, considered by many to be one of the best female artists of all time.

Card # 13, Herman

One card features Peter Noone, best known as Herman of the successful 1960’s group Herman’s Hermits. The group’s record producer, Mickie Most, was considered to be very controlling, which helped propel the group in the short term but stifled song writing creativity later on.

Card #14, Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin when The Yardbirds disbanded. Led Zeppelin are widely considered to be one of the most successful, innovative and influential bands in the history of rock music.

Card #15, The Tremeloes

Famously, Decca chose the Tremoloes over The Beatles in an audition in 1962. This talented group secured many hits in the 1960s, and are still active today.

Card #16, Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull are one of the best selling groups of all time. They have successful incorporated numerous genres in a career spanning nearly half a century.

Card #17, Fleetwood Mac

This card shows the Fleetwood Mac group during the British Blues boom, when it was still led by the creative guitarist Peter Green, who is ranked as the 38th greatest guitarist of all time.

Card #18, Elvis Presley

No pop music series would be complete without mentioning the man who did the most to popularize Rock and Roll; the late, great Elvis Presley.

Card #19, The Hollies

This card shows the great Manchester group The Hollies, known for their distinctive vocal harmony style. They became one of the leading groups of the 1960s and 1970s and are one of the few that continue to perform even today.

Card #20, Mary Hopkin

This set features the British folk singer Mary Hopkin, sometimes known as Mary Visconti, who is best known for her number one single “Those Were The Days”.

Card #21, Lou Christie

Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, known professionally as Lou Christie, is an American singer-songwriter best known for songs such as Lightnin' Strikes and his incredible 3 octave vocal range.

Card #22, Engelbert Humperdinck

Arnold George Dorsey went from a struggling pub singer into a global superstar when he changed his name to the more memorable Engelbert Humperdinck. He scored a big hit with the song Release Me.

Card #23, Tom Jones

Tom Jones’ powerful voice has helped him sell over 100 million records worldwide since 1965

Card #24, Bobbie Gentry

Bobbie Gentry was an American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to write and produce her own material.

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Abolition of Slavery Tokens and 1863 American Civil War Token New York

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Above is a classic 1863 American Civil War token. Much of its original lustre is still present, although it doesn't show up well in the scan. A portrait of George Washington is on the obverse and the inscription “New York” appears on the reverse.

Tokens are often produced when a government or monarch fail to produce enough low denomination coinage. This commonly seems to occur during civil wars although it is possible for tokens to flourish in less violent times, such as the Industrial Revolution. Unlike normal coinage, tokens are produced by businesses and private organisations, demonstrating how free markets can come to the rescue when centralised monetary systems fail to cope.

The companies that produced tokens soon realised that they could advertise their products on them. Political messages were also inscribed on them, such as the abolition of taxes and black slavery. The pictorial messages on these tokens were a very effective form of mass communication during a time when television didn’t exist and most people were illiterate. Remember that the average coin can pass through thousands of peoples’ hands in its lifetime.

Josiah Wedgewood, the founder of the world famous pottery company and grandfather to Charles Darwin, famously designed and mass produced anti slavery medallions, an early form of political jewellery. As well as becoming a popular 18th century fashion accessory, they also highlighted the plight of the black slaves far and wide. Soon anti slavery messages appeared on numerous tokens as well.

1863 American Civil War Token, obverse featuring bust of George Washington and reverse with "New York" inscription and stars

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1960's Music The Beatles The Searchers Gerry and the Pacemakers Freddie and the Dreamers Trading Cards 1964

Click Here To See More Mister Softee, who ran a popular fleet of ice cream vans, issued many pop star trading cards from the 1960s-1970s. This particular set features twelve acts, including many bands from Liverpool. It wouldn’t be complete without the legendary Beatles, who appear twice. This set also includes the following classic Liverpudlian bands: Gerry and the Pacemakers - who achieved a monster hit with “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, The Searchers and Bill J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Heading north to Manchester, Freddie and the Dreamers are paid tribute to. Three southern England bands appear, the multi chart topping group The Shadows, Dave Clark Five and Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. Although this set predominantly showcases music bands, it also includes cards devoted to the iconic singers Cliff Richard, Adam Faith and Billy Fury. As with many Mister Softee pop star sets, this set was with help from the Record Mirror, which was a British music newspaper at the time.

Mister Softee Top 10 ("Record Mirror" blue printed back - no address

Includes:The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas, The Shadows, Cliff Richard, Dave Clark Five, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Adam Faith, Billy Fury If you would like to find out more about the 1960's pop star trading cards featured in this blog please click here. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you found it interesting!