In 1980, David Bowie recorded a song, and music video, called "Ashes to Ashes", in which he again referenced a character from his past, Major Tom. You can see it online, at YouTube/ATA, but before you settle down, hear this - when it was made, it was the most expensive music video ever made, costing approximately a quarter of a million pounds. And it took three months to record.
The 1980s were good times for David Bowie, with three number ones, including this song, and another, which saw him singing with Freddie Mercury and Queen. He recorded his best selling single ever, "Let`s Dance", released in 1983. He started a new band, "Tin Machine". And he resumed his acting career, with intriguing, and sometimes controversial performances, playing Andy Warhol, extremely well, in the life story of Jean-Michel Basquiat; Nikola Tesla in "The Prestige"; and appearing as an F.B.I. Agent in David Lynch`s big screen version of Twin Peaks. "Fire Walk With Me".
For much of the "Ashes to Ashes" video, David Bowie appears, in a kind of repeating dream sequence, as a sad, white faced clown, and, for some reason, this card always makes me think of that. I don`t know why. Maybe you will also agree. It may be that the clown on this card is not just sad, but malcontented with his lot, for the back description tells us that he"...is often an expert trick rider..." and so perhaps he feels that if he could only be spotted by a random talent scout, he would be a big star in the movies, just like "Broncho Billy" Anderson..
I like this set very much and cannot believe that it is its first appearance on our site. You will see it again, too, for it has several variations. And, fittingly, this version was first issued in this month, a hundred and twenty years ago.
Our set was first recorded in our original John Player reference book, RB.17, published in 1950, as :
167. 50 RIDERS OF THE WORLD. Small cards. Fronts in colour. Backs in brown, with descriptive text. Home issues.
A. Thick grey card – Issued January 1905
B. Thinner white card – Issued August 1911.
Variety : Card No.35 [Jack Ashore] is found with “Player`s Navy Cut Cigarettes” on front in (a) one line (b) two lines
Similar series issued by Ogden, Wills, and United Tobacco Companies, South Africa
It does not mention anything about our British American Tobacco Booklet here, the home of all overseas cards like these - and the reason for that is that this was RB.21, which did not appear for another two years. When it did, the set was listed as
200-93. RIDERS OF THE WORLD. Series recorded in W/93, RB.15/146, RB.17/167 and H.358. All known printings are summarised below -
A. * Composite Wills` Australian issue, Nos 1-17 Capstan, Nos 18-34 Vice-Regal, Nos. 35-42 Pennant, Nos 43-50 Wills`s Specialities
B. * Wills` Havelock issue
C. Wills` Overseas issue
D. Anonymous issue, with letterpress on back, "C.T. Ltd" at base
E. Ogden`s Polo issue. See RB.15/146, but there are two different backs:
1. Back with cigarettes in packets all level, and two mouthpieces. This back is found both with and without the inscription "Reg, No. 1294" below illustration of packet.
2. Back with one cigarette protruding above the others and with only one mouthpiece.
F. U.T.C. issue. Back in pink, format similar to C
G. Player Home issue, two printings, see RB.17/167* No.15 "The Australian Horsewoman" in A-B is the same subject as "The English Horsewoman" in C-G.
No.23 ""Young Australia" in A-B is a new design, and replaces "Younbg England".
The two Australian printings A-B were redrawn and thus differ in minor detail from C-G, and the numbering was revised
By the time of our original World Tobacco Issues Index, the listing, under John Player, was simply :
RIDERS OF THE WORLD. Sm. Nd. (50). See H.358 and RB21/200-93.G … P72-48
It is slightly altered in the updated version, to read :
RIDERS OF THE WORLD. Sm. On creamish or greyish board. Nd. (50). See H.358 … P644-106
The sets by the other issuers were recorded in both versions of our World Tobacco Issue Indexes book as follows :
Ogden`s Ltd :
- originally under section 5.C for “Polo Cigarettes” issues, as
RIDERS OF THE WORLD (A) 67 x 36. Unnd. (50). Back in grey. See RB.21/200-93E … O/2-210
A. Back with cigarettes in packet all level (a) with (b) without “Reg. No. 1294” at base of packet.
B. Back with one cigarette protruding above the others. - later version in same section, text slightly altered to read "Back in blue", and recoded as O100-775
The United Tobacco Companies (South) Ltd., South Africa,
- originally under section 2, as :
RIDERS OF THE WORLD. Sm. 67 x 36. Nd. (50). Back in grey. See RB.21/200-93F … U14-30 - later version in same section, text slightly altered to remove "Back in grey", and recoded as U560-550
W.D. & H.O. Wills,
- originally as part of their Australian issues, under section 3.A, as :
RIDERS OF THE WORLD Sm. Nd. (50). See RB.21/200-93E … W62-234
A. Vari-backed issue. Four backs
B. “Havelock” back. Brand issue
and also as part of their “Other Export Issues”, under section 5, as :
RIDERS OF THE WORLD Sm. Nd. (50). See RB.21/200-93E … W62-469 - later version amended to section 4, text unaltered, and recoded as W675-364