1913 Cope’s Music Hall Artistes Set and Checklist

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	1913 Cope’s Music Hall Artistes
Year	1913
Size	1 1/2″ x 2 5/8″
Images	Color
Type	Tobacco
Number in Set	50

1913 Cope’s Music Hall Artistes Overview

George Hackenschmidt Cope Music Hall Artistes.jpg This unique issue was distributed by Cope Brothers & Company based out of Liverpool and London. These cards were distributed in their 1913 Cope’s Cigarettes packages.

The set is mostly a non-sports issue featuring performers that would be seen in a music hall with many being comedians, musicians, and actors/actresses. However, wrestler George Hackenschmidt is featured as a subject on Card No. 46. Hackenschmidt was one of the top pre-war wrestling figures and was a regular inclusion in multi-sport sets.

Hackenschmidt is really considered to be the only athlete in this set, though a small case could be made for Paul Cinequevalli (Card No. 11), who was a professional acrobat and juggler. Cinequevalli also was cited as a prize-winning athlete as a child, though his sports and achievements are not noted.

The cards include colorful pictures of the front with a card number and his/her name at the bottom. Backs include a biography of the subject as well as the title of the set, Music Hall Artistes.

Finally, two types of these cards are known to exist. The fronts are the same on both types but some backs mention the card is part of a Series of 50 while others do not.

The set is somewhat rare but as non-sports cards, most can typically be found in the $10-$15 range when they are seen. However, the Hackenschmidt cards typically sell for a bit more.