1928 & 1929 Churchman Men of the Moment in Sport Sets and Checklist
‘It’s In The Details’
Title | Churchman Men of the Moment in Sport |
Year | 1928 and 1929 |
Size | 1 1/2″ x 2 5/8″ (small) / 2″ x 3″ (large) |
Images | Color |
Type | Tobacco |
Number in Set |
50 (small) / 12 (large) |
1928 & 1929 Churchman Men of the Moment in Sport Overview
These UK set were distributed by the Imperial Tobacco Company for their Churchman brand tobacco products. Two 1928 sets (a small and large one) were printed and a large 1929 issue followed.
The smaller 1928 cards feature a total of 50 athletes in a variety of sports, such as boxing, golf, and tennis. Fronts include colorful cartoon images of athletes, often with oversized heads. The backs include a biography of the athlete. An artist signature of ‘Mel’ accompanies each picture.
The set is littered with big names that many American collectors will recognize, including boxers Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. Hall of Fame golfers Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, and Bobby Jones are in the set, too, as are tennis greats Bill Tilden and Rene Lacoste.
As was the case with the 1928 Churchman Lawn Tennis set produced in the same year as this one, Churchman created a larger set that is significantly rarer. That issue, however, is not an exact parallel as it includes only 12 cards as opposed to this one that has 50.
Finally, in 1929, Churchman distributed a second series to the larger 1928 issue. That one again included 12 cards featuring additional players from the small 1928 set that were not in the large 1928 series.
Confused? In all, there are three Men of the Moment sets:
- 1928 Churchman (smaller cards, set of 50)
- 1928 Churchman (larger cards, set of 12)
- 1929 Churchman (larger cards, set of 12)
1928 & 1929 Churchman Men of the Moment in Sport Checklists
1928 – Small Set of 50
- Lord Burghley
- J.E. London
- D. G. A. Lowe
- Paavo Nurmi
- W. Ritola
- G.C. Weightman Smith
- J.F. Devlin
- Sir George Thomas
- Joe Davis
- Melbourne Inman
- Tom Newman
- Willie Smith
- Jack Dempsey
- Tom Heeney
- Harry Preston
- Gene Tunney
- A. P. F. Chapman
- P. G. H. Fender
- W.R. Hammond
- J.B. Hobbs
- D.R. Jardine
- A. Sandham
- H. Sutcliffe
- Archie Compston
- George Duncan
- Walter Hagen
- Bobby Jones
- Jose Jurado
- Abe Mitchell
- T.P. Perkins
- Gene Sarazen
- C. J. H. Tolley
- Roger Wethered
- T.W. Mansergh
- H.W. Austin
- J. Borotra
- Henri Cochet
- E. Higgs
- Karel Kozeluh
- Rene Lacoste
- G.L. Patterson
- P. D. B. Spence
- Bill Tilden
- H.A. Barry
- R. Cove-Smith
- W. J. A. Davies
- D. Drysdale
- G.V. Stephenson
- W.W. Wakefield
- A.T. Young
1928 – Large Set of 12
- Lord Burghley
- G.C. Weightman Smith
- Sir George Thomas
- Joe Davis
- Gene Tunney
- A P. F. Chapman
- Bobby Jones
- Abe Mitchell
- T.W. Mansergh
- H.W. Austin
- J. Borotra
- W. J. A. Davies
1929 – Large Set of 12
- D. G. A. Lowe
- J.F. Devlin
- Willie Smith
- Harry Preston
- J.B. Hobbs
- H. Sutcliffe
- Walter Hagen
- Roger Wethered
- Karel Kozeluh
- P. D. B. Spence
- H.A. Barry
- D. Drysdale
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