The 1926 Lambert & Butler “Who’s Who in Sport” set is a classic pre-war tobacco card series issued by the British cigarette manufacturer Lambert & Butler (part of Imperial Tobacco) and distributed in cigarette packets primarily in the UK market. This 50-card multi-sport collection, released in 1926, showcases prominent athletes from the mid-1920s era in black-and-white real photograph format, with each card featuring a player’s image on the front along with their name, sport, and a brief caption, while the reverse includes advertising for Lambert & Butler cigarettes plus short biographical or career details. The cards measure approximately 38 mm × 67 mm (equivalent to about 1-1/2″ × 2-5/8″). The set covers a diverse range of sports with a British and international focus, including golf, boxing, cricket, and others, capturing top performers in the post-World War I sports landscape. Highlights include Bobby Jones’s widely recognized rookie card (#2 in golf), Gene Tunney (#3 in boxing), stars like Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes in cricket, Suzanne Lenglen in tennis, and various other notable figures.
Regarding auto racing, there are two cards directly related to the category: #10 featuring Major Henry Segrave (the renowned British racing driver and land speed record holder) and #19 featuring J.G. Parry-Thomas (the Welsh engineer and motor-racing driver known for land speed record attempts). This scarcity makes the set particularly appealing to vintage multi-sport and golf collectors, with complete sets or high-grade examples remaining sought-after and valuable in today’s hobby due to the quality of the photos and inclusion of iconic early stars.
Card #10
Major Segrave
Card #10
Major Segrave
“Who’s Who in Sport”
Card #19
J.G. Parry Thomas
“Who’s Who in Sport”
Card #19
J.G. Parry Thomas