Hansi Knoteck + Viktor Staal ~ A publicity photo probably from the 1936 film Winter in the Woods (Waldwinter). During WWII, Hansi Knoteck and Viktor Staal were members of the underground in the struggle against the Nazi regime.

This is a nice large format cigarette card from Drama Cigarettes. It was published in 1936 as part of their Bunte Filmbilder series one. It is card #240. Size: just over 2¼" x 2¾" (slightly smaller that a US baseball card). The edges are gilt and showing slight wear. Overall the condition is very fine.

Hansi Knoteck was a singer, stage and film actress. Her great aunt was actress Katharina Schratt (1855-1940). She originally trained as a ballet dancer, then later studied at the Academy of Music and Art in Vienna. Her first engagement was in Mährisch-Ostrau, Marienbad and Leipzig. She first appeared in the cinema while living in Berlin, and altogether featured in more than 36 movies. She was married to Viktor Staal from December 24, 1940 until his death in 1984. They had one son (Hannes, 1942).

Viktor Staal debuted in film in 1935. and appeared in movies like Alles für die Firma (1935), Eva (1935) and Das Einmaleins der Liebe (1935). Staal became a popular actor during the Nazi era and entertained the audience with successful movies like Waldwinter (1936) in which he starred with wife Hansi Knoteck, Zu neuen Ufern (1937) with Zarah Leander, Eine Nacht im Mai (1938), Capriccio (1938), and Umwege zum Glück (1939). During wartime productions like Zwielicht (1940), Die grosse Liebe (1942), Nora (1944) and Via Mala (1944) followed. After the war Staal returned to the theater and it was several years before he was able to resume his previous success.

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.