The Radio Celebrities set offered for Wills cigarettes was one of the many album series’ of tobacco cards out of the UK in the 1930s. While a more intriguing collection of subjects, the set is still priced fairly low simply because it was overproduced.

Two series’ of the cards were issued in 1934 and, according to some accounts, 1935. These cards were designed to be pasted into a specially-designed album created by Wills, like many of their other 1930s sets. A thin adhesive was added to the backs and for one penny, collectors could buy the album and easily paste the cards into them. Those albums are where you will find a great many still today.

The set has the same generic look as many other Wills sets — white borders, the Wills’ Cigarettes name on top, and the subject’s name at the bottom with a bio on the back.

Most of the names in the set have been ‘lost to time.’ Collectors recognizing even a few subjects in the set will be doing better than most. But in flipping through a large pile of these cards as part of a recent purchase, I learned that one card in it would be a desirable one to sports collectors.

Paul Robeson

While this non-sports set contains radio celebrities, at least one subject in it is noteworthy to sports card collectors. Paul Robeson was not a name I was familiar with but his card stood out to me as an African American in a type of set that was not really known for featuring those types of subjects. And yes, of course he looks a tad like Sammy Sosa in that picture.

Robeson is found in the first series from 1934 and is Card No. 23.

I was curious to learn more about him and that was heightened as the back of his card cited him as an athlete, among other things.

The ‘athlete’ mention, which seemed like a footnote almost seems unfair in hindsight. Robeson was the first Black football player at Rutgers, but he didn’t only excel in football. In all, Robeson won a total of 15 varsity letters in that sport, basketball, baseball, and track at the school. Football, however, is the sport he excelled in, twice being named as an All-American before becoming a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Robeson even played professionally, playing first for Akron in 1921 before playing in the NFL with Milwaukee in 1922. In all, he suited up for 15 games and scored a pair of touchdowns.

I was a bit angry with the dismissiveness that Robeson’s athletic career was treated in the bio on the back of his card. But when you learn more about his life, it’s clear that sports was indeed a very small part of it.

This bio on Rutgers’ site mentions that he spoke more than 20 languages fluently and was valedictorian of his graduating class. With a law degree to his credit, he went on to become a singer and actor known around the world. Critically, Robeson also fought for African-American rights and was a well-known activist. A more exhaustive look at Robeson, of course, can be found on Wikipedia.

Robeson’s card is notable if for no other reason than he led an extraordinary life and was extremely popular. It is also desirable as it may be his only trading card from the pre-war era. While photos and lobby cards for his appearances exist, I am not sure that Robeson is found on any other pre-war trading cards. Robeson does appear, of course, on some later cards, including some post-war vintage postcards. However, I have not found in any other earlier sets.

Consider, too, how few cards exist of early collegiate and professional football players in general. While college subjects can be found on many early postcards (often in team format), there are relatively few cards picturing individual players in the sport, even after their careers were over. There are even fewer cards of pre-war professional players with the first pro football set generally cited as National Chicle’s 1935 Football Stars set.

Given all of that, Robeson’s card is an absolute bargain, considering you can usually buy it quite inexpensively. eBay often has complete Wills Radio Celebrities sets for under $20. Those are typically listed more frequently than Robeson’s card is listed separately. If you can find a single, it can be for as little as $5 or even less.

In scanning the handful of Robeson cards I’ve got, none look ‘grading worthy.’ And sadly, while I’d love to have a high-grade example of Robeson’s card, few have even been sent in for grading. Few have bothered with the set as a whole. Only three Robeson cards have been graded by PSA at all at the time of this writing and that’s more than anyone else’s cards have been graded in it.

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