| Player’s 1932 set of Dandies holds a special interest for collectors beyond the admirable pictures and texts, because it contains one of the most famous gaffs in cigarette card history. Christopher Clark R.I. was responsible for the artwork, and no doubt was careful to be historically accurate when portraying the characters. Unfortunately when it came to Disraeli (subject no.43) he painted Big Ben in the background. However, the text tells us ‘Dizzy’ was 22 at the time, so the date was 1826 – and Big Ben wasn’t built till thirty years later! The error was discovered after the first printing was released and an attempt to remove Big Ben in the second run left a ghostly blur. The third run has a plain background and this is what you will see in our set of the month. Elsewhere in the series we meet Narcissus, Julius Caesar, Richard II, Walter Raleigh, Samuel Pepys, George IV, Beau Brummell and Charles Dickens through to London’s Pearly Kings and Queens and World Heavyweight boxing champion James. J. Corbett.
This set of 50 Players Dandies 1932 in very good condition is catalogued at £20.00,
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