General Auction including Antiques & Collectables, Gold & Silver (14% Buyers Commission)
A collection of vintage cigarette card albums produced by John Player & Sons, a branch of the Imperial Tobacco Company (of Great Britain and Ireland), Limited. The albums date from the late 1930s and were designed as collectable books for housing sets of cards issued with cigarette packets. The collection includes themed albums titled An Album of Aeroplanes (Civil), featuring photography by C.A. Sims of The Aeroplane magazine; Cycling 1839-1939, a centenary commemorative volume; and An Album of Cricketers 1938, which contains illustrated biographical cards for players including D. Smith of Derbyshire, T. P. B. Smith of Essex, and J. E. Timms of Northamptonshire. An additional album focuses on Association Football, featuring instructional diagrams such as Triangular Wing Movement and player cards. Each album contains colour-printed cards tipped into designated spaces accompanied by detailed descriptive text. The covers are printed on light cardstock, and the volumes are bound with metal staples. The reverse of the albums features the Player’s Navy Cut registered trade mark depicting a bearded sailor and the cursive slogan Player’s Please.
Condition report:
The albums are in used vintage condition consistent with their age. All volumes show general toning and widespread foxing to the paper surfaces. The metal staples exhibit significant oxidation and rust, which has resulted in brown staining to the paper at the spines and inner gutters. The cover of the Aeroplanes (Civil) album shows heavier staining and surface wear. Minor creasing and edge wear are present on all covers. The cards appear to be neatly affixed within their designated spaces. The albums appear to be largely complete, though a page-by-page audit has not been conducted.
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