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Tobacco Products Corp. Film Stars (Strollers) - C142 Bob Forbes Information

Contributor ----------- Bob Forbes

C142 is one of the most complex Canadian tobacco card series. It shares many similarities with the Tobacco Product Corporation, U.S., issues T83 & T85.

C142 is one of the most complex Canadian tobacco card series. It shares man similarities with the Tobacco Product Corporation, U.S., issues T83 & T85. C142-1 – small sepia cards, numbered 1-100 on the fronts and backs. The fronts include only the number and the movie star’s name. The backs include an offer of a “Handsome Album” to hold all 100 cards for 20 cents in postage stamps. At the bottom is “Tobacco Products Corp., 38 Cathcart St., Montreal, Canada. There is no brand shown. The front images match those in T85-1. C142-2A – small black & white cards, numbered 1-220 on the fronts and backs. There is a second text line below the movie star’s name that shows the star’s studio. The tops of the backs have the line “Packed with Strollers Cigarettes.” The backs include an offer of a “Handsome Album” to hold all 120 cards for 20 cents in postage stamps. At the bottom is “Tobacco Products Corp. of Canada, Ltd. 38 Cathcart St., Montreal, Canada.” There are both movie stars (101-200) and Mack Sennett girls (201-220) depicted. The front images match those in T85-2. C142-2B – Series 4 Variation – The fronts of these small cards (101-220) match those in C142-2 (and T85-2). C142-3-1A – (38 Cathcart) - these medium black & white cards depict various movie stars and have the number, name, and studio at the bottom of the front. The backs have “Packed with Stroller Cigarettes” at the top and “Tobacco Products Corporation of Canada, Ltd. 38 Cathcart Street, Montreal” at the bottom. The backs have an album offer but do not state the number of cards in the series. The cards are printed on thin stock. The fronts match those found in the T83-1 issue. C142-3-1B – (Series No. 3) - this version has the same front style as the C142-3-1A issue, but different backs and the subjects depicted vary. The backs have “Packed with Stroller Cigarettes” at the top and “Tobacco Products Corporation of Canada, Ltd.” with one of three addresses at the bottom: 240 Craig St. East, Montreal, Canada.; 300 Atlantic Ave., Montreal; or Hamilton Ontario. The line “Series No. 3” is found at the bottom. The backs have an album offer but do not state the number of cards in the series. All subjects studied are numbered. It is believed that this was a separate issue from C142-3-1A, with some differences in subjects and quantity in the series. The card stock varies. C142-3-1C – (Series No. 5) – this is believed to be a separate issue from C142-3-1A or 1B, with some or all of the subjects unique to this issue. The fronts are in a similar style but can be found numbered or unnumbered. The backs have the “Packed with Strollers Cigarettes” at the top and include an offer for “handsome hand-coloured photographs, size 6 ½ x 9 ½.” (these ten photos are found in C143). The bottoms have “Tobacco Products Corporation of Canada, Ltd.” and Series No. 5 Hamilton, Ont. The card stock is slightly heavier than C142-3-1A. C142-3-2 – These medium cards have the number and movie star’s name at the bottom of the fronts and no brand shown on the backs. There is a 100-card album offer. The address shown is “38 Cathcart St., Montreal, Canada.” The fronts match those found in T83-2.