Hans Albers ~ Issued in about 1934. This card measures about 2"x2½" and is #36 in the Unsere Bunte Filmbilder series from Bulgaria Cigarettes. A very nice 1930s card. Some light wear and a minor crease, card is about very good to fine.

Hans Albers: Under Weimar Albers was one of the first actors in the world to appear in a sound film. Called the blond, daredevil adventurer and irresistible lover of the German screen, Albers was the most popular screen performer of Nazi Germany, the highest paid German celebrity of the war years, and arguably the most powerful and influential individual in Germany outside of the Nazi government. Because of his immense public popularity, Albers was able to thrive in Goebbels' dream factory despite a distaste for the Nazi regime which he made no effort to disguise. In return, Goebbels detested Albers who flatly refused to have anything to do with any production that he felt glorified the Nazi government. Although many, perhaps most, of his roles were fairly harmless entertainment, Albers starred in the 1943 Nazi epic Münchhausen. Still, Albers may have been unique in his ability to thumb his nose at the Hitler state secured by Goebbels' belief that if the German people had been forced to choose between Adolf Hitler and Hans Albers, the majority would have chosen Albers.

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.