![BAP-040 : BAN-2 [trade : UK] Barbers Teas “Cinema and Television Stars” (1955) 8/24](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-01/11%20curtis%20pair.jpg?itok=Vqc8mPtx)
Oddly billed as “Anthony Curtis” on the top and Tony in the text, which was supplied by “Picturegoer” magazine.
As well as the film star cards there is a checklist, and that is rather rare, because you had to send two of those up to get the special album.
This set has a big claim to fame as the final card in the set is Marilyn Monroe. Because of this, the set has been reprinted – in 1993, by Moviestar, Inc. It is easy to tell these from the originals though as the originals have black backs and the reprints are blue, with a large reprint notice. You can see all the cards in the set at https://immortalephemera.com/movie-collectibles/1955-barbers-teas-trading-cards/
The card says that Barbers Teas were established in 1797, and they were currently located at Teaplant House, Birmingham 5. This was in Pershore Street.
Their figurehead was “Little Miss Barber” who had a box of tea on top of her hat, and who was first used in 1929. She is found on cards too, advertising the forthcoming sets of "Dogs" and "Railway Equipment" (maybe others too), and she is in colour, her face and arms at least, and a little bit of leg, because they are pink and her costume is black and white stripes.
She seems to have been retired in the 1960s.
Barbers also had a slogan, “a little BARBERS makes a lot of TEA”.
Their other sets were :
Aeroplanes (25 cards - 1956)
Dogs (24 cards - 1960)
Locomotives (25 - 1953)
Railway Equipment (25 cards - 1958)
There is also a separate local Birmingham issue, dating from 1957, with quarter pound packets of their brand, "Orantips". These cards are black and white, and show film stars - Curt Jurgens, Noel Purcell, Jeremy Spenser, Sylvia Syms, and Orson Welles - who were starring in "Ferry to Hong Kong", and if you collected all five and posted them to the manager of the Odeon you could go and see the film for free.