Now this was a bit spur of the moment, but it did give you the clue to Hampshire for sure. And if anyone knows of a cartophilic link to any of our branches with this card do let us know!
Now Hill issued three series of cards, all called by this title, and one which adds "Series" at the end. They are easy enough to tell apart though, because the first one, the one with "Series", issued in 1912, has twenty-eight cards and is either found in black and white, brown, or blue with red backs. The second version is ours, a set of forty cards. The third is a set of fifty cards, and includes the South African Test Team, and you can also get that set in a larger format. So there should not be too much confusion.
Our set is described in our original Reference Book No.2 (RB.2), covering the issues of R. & J. Hill, as
1923. 40 FAMOUS CRICKETERS (titled series). Size 2 3/4" x 1 1/2". Numbered 1-40. Fronts, printed by photogravure, one colour only, no titles or margins. Backs printed in dull brown with crossed bats design : descriptions and "Issued by R. & J. Hill Ltd., The Spinet House..." at base. No address. Printed by Ripley & Co., London.
Now by the time of our original World Tobacco Issues Index there had been a very interesting discovery, and now it says : "FAMOUS CRICKETERS. Sm. Brown gravures. Nd. (40), with variations for some numbers, see X1/Ha.633." The X1 prefix means the handbook to the World Index, which in later printings is combined within the same binding. That explains more about the variations, which I find rather intriguing. These are :
No.3 (Tyldesley, E) and No.19 (Kennedy, A) - found either (a) in a cricket shirt, or (b) in a blazer
No.19 (Holmes, P) - found either (a) on a plain background, or (b) on a cricket field background.No.30 (Douglas, Col. J.W.H.T.) and No.32 (Hardinge, H.T.W.) - found either (a) with a light background, or (b) with stumps, just visible, either in the left bottom corner on card 30, or at the side on card 32,
No.35 (Fender, P.G.H.) - found either (a) a close up with 6 m/m from edge of card to head, or (b) further away, with 12 m/m from edge of card to head.
Now I have not seen these cards, but to me cards 19 seems to be very similarly described to 30 and 32, the light or plain background version, and the playing field with the stumps. If anyone can confirm or deny this, please do.
And I also wonder if there are any other cards with the cricket shirt or blazer variant ?
So have a look at your cards and lets see if we can expand our knowledge!