Luli Deste or Luli von Hohenberg ~ This is a small format cigarette card from 1936, published as part of the Bunte Filmbilder series two. It is card #109. Size: just over 2¾" x 1¼" (about the same size as a typical American cigarette card). The edges are gilt and showing light wear. Overall the condition is very fine.

This and all other cigarette premiums that I offer are vintage originals. Combine lots to save on shipping and be sure to check out the hundreds of premiums in my eBay store.

Luli Deste was born on November 7, 1902 in Heidelberg, Germany as Julie "Luli" Dorothea von Bodenhausen. Her stage name in Germany was Luli von Hohenberg but in the United States she performed as Luli Deste. As an actress, she was known for The Case of the Black Parrot (1941), South to Karanga (1940) and Verdacht auf Ursula (1939). Aristocratic blue-eyed German actress, dancer and singer, daughter of Baron Eberhard von Bodenhausen, a former director of the Krupp steel works. She made her English-speaking film debut in Britain opposite Edward G Robinson in Thunder in the City (1937). Luli subsequently came to Hollywood with an entourage of three Afghan hounds but found quality roles hard to come by. She played Queen Fria in Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940). She quit film acting in 1941.She died on July 7, 1951 in New York City, New York, USA.

This lot consists of a genuine German cigarette premium issued between about 1930 and 1937. In general, German cigarette cards and premiums make an interesting and inexpensive addition to any collection. The Nazi government of Germany opposed smoking and eventually put an end to cigarette cards. As a result, the native German card collecting hobby never developed to the extent of that in Britain or the United States. As a result, most German premiums and cards cost only a fraction of what might be expected from their American and British cousins.

Large photos are shown smaller than actual size while small ones are generally enlarged to as much as twice their original size. Almost all photos and cards are scanned through protective sleeves or pages which tends to cut the clarity a bit. Enlarged defects tend to look worse than they actually are.