Hard-a-Port

Tobacco Insert Playing Cards

Collectible insert cards were a marketing innovation which started in the nineteenth century. Most of us will be familiar with these from our own childhood. Subjects varied from theatre or cinema stars and actors or statesmen, to animals, butterflies or birds, aircraft, garden flowers or playing cards. Cards were included inside tobacco products, chewing gum, tea, chocolate, match boxes, magazines, etc. In some cases they were not necessarily aimed at children but were aimed at the collecting urge in the average person.

The “Hard-a-Port Cut Plug” series depicts actresses with angelic faces dressed for the pantomime or dance hall. The costumes mostly have a playing card theme, and the court cards wear crowns or hold swords or other symbols of office. The Aces and numeral cards have the suit symbols superimposed over the costumes. Plug tobacco is a form of loose leaf tobacco made for chewing which was the most prevalent form of tobacco used in the United States until it was overtaken by cigarette smoking in the early 20th century.

Above: “Hard-a-Port Cut Plug” tobacco insert playing cards published by MacLin-Zimmer-McGill (USA) c.1890, featuring a selection of beautiful actresses from a past era, in poses some might consider risqué. This set of designs was used in around six different editions with various backs advertising “Hard-a-Port Cut Plug” and/or “Trumps Long Cut” chewing tobacco. They were originally produced by Moore and Calvi, then by their successors MacLin and Zimmer and Maclin-Zimmer-McGill in around the 1890s (see note below).

Above: the Joker and several back designs advertising “Hard-a-Port Cut Plug” and/or “Trumps Long Cut” chewing tobacco Click to zoom

Risqué Beauties of the Theatre

The pin-up girls from the “Hard-a-Port” set were re-published in 2003 by F.G. & Co., a company owned by Gianna Majzler and Darren Calkins.

Above: selection from "Risqué Beauties" taken from the "Hard-a-Port" set and re-published in 2003 by F.G. & Co. Images courtesy Rex Pitts.

Note from Peter Burnett

According to Hochman Encyclopedia of American playing cards (p.212-213) there appears to have been c. 6 variations (all c. 1890):

1. Moore & Calvi. (This also appears with "Cullingworth" overprinted in red on the reverse, and also with MacLin-Zimmer overprinted on the reverse)
2. Maclin-Zimmer replaces Moore & Calvi on the reverse
3. Maclin-Zimmer-McGil on reverse
4. Maclin-Zimmer-McGil II (on faces "Trumps Long Cut" appears in addition to the Hard A Port logo)
5. Hard A Port blue backs (back design shows seaman at the wheel)
6. Trumps Long Cut blue backs (slightly wider than previous variations)