Old Tennis Trade

Tennis Cigarette Cards ( Collectables )

I've been collecting and selling early trade cards, cigarette cards and related collectables for over twenty years. Before you read this guide please subscribe to my card collecting newsletters for updates on rare cards and tips on buying by Clicking Here, thank you.

The origins of tennis can be traced back as far as Ancient Greece. However, its modern form dates back to the late 19th century and spread mainly throughout the English-speaking world, particularly among the upper classes. Only a small number of cigarette card sets were devoted purely to tennis, although many general sports' sets do contain tennis cards, along with other sports. I've listed a small selection of sets containing tennis cardsbelow. I've provided scans of a sample card from each set and I've tried to list as many card titles as possible.

Name Of Set: Sports II With Hidden Objects S462
Manufacturer: Liebig Extract of Meat Co
Issue Year: 1895
Card Number: 6
Card Titles: -

Name Of Set: A Butterfly Chase S761
Manufacturer: Liebig Extract of Meat Co
Issue Year: 1904
Card Number: 6
Card Titles: -

Name Of Set: Tennis Strokes
Manufacturer: Nicholas Sarony
Issue Year: 1923
Card Number: 25
Card Titles: -

Name Of Set: Lawn Tennis Celebrities
Manufacturer: Gallaher
Issue Year: 1928
Card Number: 50
Card Titles: Mrs LA Godfree, Miss N Trentham, CH Kingsley, Mrs Beamish, OGN Turnbull, Mrs Satterthwaite, Senorita Lilli de Alvarez, Miss Joan Ridley, DM Greig, CG Eames, Miss E Goldsack, Mrs Mavrogodato, LA Godfree, Mrs Lambert Chambers, PDB Spence, Mdlle Suzanne Lenglen, Jean Borotra, Mlle H Contostavlos, Miss Elizabeth Ryan, E Higgs, Miss Evelyn Colye, Miss Helen Wills, Miss K. Bouman, Mrs G Peacock, Henri Cochet, EA Dearman, JC Gregory, Miss EL Heine, R Lycett, Mrs M Watson, HW Austin, FC Hunter, Miss P Saunders, GRO Crole-Rees, Mrs Colegate, Miss Betty Nuthall, Lieut-Col ARF Kingscote, Vincent Richards, Jean Rene Lacoste, JDP Wheatley, Hon C Campbell, Miss Joan Fry, Mrs Mallory, WM Washburn, Miss Eileen Bennett, Takeichi Harada, J Brugnon, JB Gilbert, Bill Tilden, and Mrs R Lycett.

Name Of Set: Lawn Tennis
Manufacturer: WA