The 1929 Godfrey Phillips “Sporting Champions” set is a vintage tobacco card series from the British cigarette maker Godfrey Phillips Ltd. The set features 36 sepia-toned real photograph cards measuring 38 mm by 67 mm (1 1/2″ x 2 5/8″). Printed in France and issued as cigarette pack premiums in the UK, the cards show black-and-white portraits or poses on the front with the athlete’s name, while the backs include a bio, card number, and company advertising.
The set heavily focuses on boxing, with most cards depicting prominent fighters of the late 1920s, including Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. Only one card relates to auto racing: #11 Sir Henry (A.O.D.) Segrave, the British land speed record holder.
These pre-WWII tobacco cards appeal to vintage collectors, especially boxing enthusiasts, for their historical value and affordability. Complete sets in average condition typically sell for a few hundred dollars, with standout boxing cards like Dempsey or Tunney commanding more based on grade.
