We have mentioned Mr. P. F. Warner before, in our newsletter of the 5th of April, 2025 - but only in respect of Wills` "Cricketer Series, 1901, for our Wills reference book part two lists that set with a revelation, telling us "Card No. 45 describes Mr. P. F. Warner, whilst the picture is actually that of Mr. G. E. Winter. No corrected card is known." By the way, what they mean by "describes" is not a descriptive text, it just means they have the name of Mr. Warner beneath a picture of Mr. Winter.
His name was actually [Sir] Pelham Francis Warne, MBE, and he was born, in Port of Spain, in Trinidad, on the 2nd of October, 1873. His mother was Spanish, by the name of Rosa Cadiz, and she must have worked more than a bit of magic on the rather staid Charles Warner and his English Colonial Family. Rather sweetly, the baby was usually referred to as "Plum" (a shortening of his first name). He was schooled, at first, in Barbados, then he was shipped off to Rugby School and thence to Oxford, where he first played cricket.
His brother, Aucher, was also a cricketer, but for the West Indies side and for Trinidad. It does not look like they ever faced each other on the field though, more is the pity.
Our man played in fifteen Test Matches, starting in 1899 against South Africa. And his greatest triumph was with a most spirited reclaiming of the Ashes, in 1903-4, after which he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He was, most unusually, also given that honour in 1921 - for captaining Middlesex to the County Championship - for this is meant to be but a one time event in a cricketing career. Though there is one other also named so twice, and that was Jack Hobbs.
After his retirement as a player he became a manager, the chairman of the test selectors for England, and then President of the M.C.C. And he was knighted, for services to cricket, in 1937. These did not only include on the field of play, for he was a keen writer on the sport, founding "The Cricketer" magazine in 1921, and remaining editor until 1963. And he was also a very popular cricket correspondent for several newspapers.
He also had a very happy marriage, since 1904, resulting in three children. And he died in 1963, aged eighty-nine, in Sussex.
As to his card, well, I was rather confused about this set, but after I tracked it down in the reference books it made more sense. The problem is that it is listed under "Cricketers - Australian Issues" without the word "Prominent". There is also a picture of all the backs, which makes it clearer, but I will insert that elsewhere, as one of the group has already been featured as the card of the day for the 31st of March, 2024 - and it is further up the list of variations (as 59.B) than ours. So, until I feature a card from 59.A, that will be the home page for that group.
The text for our set reads :
- 59.J 59 Prominent AUSTRALIAN AND ENGLISH CRICKETERS. Size 61 x 36 m/m. Numbered on backs. See Fig. 41.J. Fronts printed in letterpress in black and white. The series was originally issued as one of 50, with two printings - "Capstan" and "Vice Regal" backs. The "Vice Regal" printing shows much variation in the shade of black. Both printings were inscribed "A Series of 50". Subsequently, Nos. 1-50 were reissued, again in two printings - "Havelock" and anonymous backs and both were inscribed "A Series of ". Finally, the "Capstan" and "Vice Regal" printings were reissued as a series of 59, cards 1-50 being inscribed "A Series of " and cards Nos. 51-59, "A Series of 59"
The nine additional cards provide a clue to the date of issue - all nine subjects were members of the M.C.C. team which toured Australia in 1911-12. The names of the members of the team would have been announced in August, 1911. It appears likely therefore that the first 50 subjects (which include a number of English cricketers) were prepared for issue at the opening of the Australian Cricket Season (October, 1911) and the nine additional titles which cover the members of the visiting English team not included in the first 50 cards would probably have been added a month or two later; the series would thus appear to be a 1911 issue.
SUMMARY
A. "Capstan" advertisement, backs in BLUE.
(a) Nos. 1-50 headed "A Series of 50",
(b) Nos. 1-50 headed "A Series of "
(c) Nos. 51-59 "A Series of 59"
B. "Vice Regal" advertisement, backs in PINK-MAUVE.
(a) Nos. 1-50 headed "A Series of 50",
(b) Nos. 1-50 headed "A Series of "
(c) Nos. 51-59 "A Series of 59"
C. "Havelock" advertisement, backs in OLIVE. Nos. 1-50, headed "A Series of "
D. No brand advertised, backs in GREY. (Anonymous issue). Nos. 1-50 headed "A Series of "
There is much colour variation in backs, especially in A and B.
By the way part four only adds a change to 59.F, and part five to 59.E - and we will add those in when we feature those cards.
Before I race on, the way that the above is written makes it seem like there is a large gap after "A Series of ......" but if you look at our card, nothing looks awry, it is only noticed if you already have the other printing. In fact I am not sure why the entry in the reference book did not just say "A Series of".
As for the date, that is supplied by Wills` Works Magazine, where our set is recorded as having been issued in June 1911. And all three brands were recorded as having been issued at the same time. But the fact that this is recorded means that the cards were printed in England and exported to Australia - and the only other Cricketers sets in this group which can claim that are 59.H and 59.I, issued in July 1907 - which, curiously, also carry the word "Prominent".
Now by the time of the World Tobacco Issues Index, the sets are under section 3 of the Wills listing, for Australian Issues, and sub-section 3.A, for issues between 1901 and 1917. In there our set appears as :
CRICKETER SERIES (A). Sm. ... W62-221
- 7. 1911-1912 issues. Titled "Australian and English Cricketers"". Size 62 x 36. Black and white. Nos. 1/50 headed "A Series of 50", Nos. 51-59 headed "A Series of....." See W/59.J
A. "Capstan" back (59)
B. "Vice Regal" back, in shades of pink or mauve (59)
C. "Havelock" back (50). Brand issue
There is a bit of a change to the entry for this set in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, and the entry now reads :
CRICKETERS SERIES (A). Sm. ... W675-347
- 7. 1911-1912 issues. Titled "Australian and English Cricketers"". Size 62 x 36. Black and white. Nos. 1/50 headed "A Series of 50", Nos. 51-59 headed "A Series of....." See W/59.J
A. "Capstan" back in blue. Nos. 1/50 headed
(a) "A Series of 50"
(b) "A Series of " .
Nos. 51-59 headed "A Series of 59"
B. "Vice Regal" back in shades of pink or mauve. Back varieties as for "Capstan".
C. "Havelock" back in olive (50). Front (a) with (b) without (brand issue) "Wills` Cigarettes"
As for the missing set, the anonymous one, that is actually recorded at the back of the original World Tobacco Issues Index, with the "Z" codes, under "Anonymous issues (1) - with letterpress on back", sub-section b. for "Australian issues". However, the heading for that section tells an interesting tale, that they were "inscribed with album wording "... at 1/- each through all tobacconists", except Set ZA3-7, [which was] inscribed "Presented to Smokers of these Cigarettes". Small size 67 x 36 m/m, unless stated. Issued by B.A.T.".
The listing for the set reads "AUSTRALIAN AND ENGLISH CRICKETERS. Sm. 63 x 36. Black and white. Nd. (50). See W/59.J ... ZA3-2". And that is identical in the updated version, save a new card code, of ZA03-080.