c.1950s, John Player & Sons Doll Cigarette Packet, England

A mid-20th century miniature “Player’s Bachelor Tipped” doll cigarette packet, produced in England as a child’s imitation smoking accessory reflecting period social norms.

This miniature cigarette packet is styled after “Player’s Bachelor Tipped 20” and closely replicates the adult retail packaging of the era. The box features pale green patterned printing with navy and cream lettering, oval profile silhouettes, and the “John Player” script on the reverse. Inside are imitation cigarettes made of rolled paper with coloured tips to resemble filter ends. The scale indicates it was intended as a doll accessory or novelty toy rather than for actual tobacco use.

John Player & Sons was a major British tobacco manufacturer establishedin the 19th century in Nottingham, England. By the mid-20th century, the“Player’s” brand was internationally recognised. Toy and novelty cigarette sets were commonly produced in Britain during the 1940s–1950s, reflecting a period when smoking was socially accepted and frequently mirrored in children’s play culture. Miniature branded packets such as this were often sold as confectionery novelties or doll accessories.

The intended play value was role imitation. Children replicated adult behaviour through pretend smoking, shop play, or dollhouse settings. While such items are no longer culturally appropriate for children’s toys, they provide important insight into shifting social attitudes and mid-century marketing practices.

Features

Measurements: 30 mm high x 30 mm wide x 7 mm deep

Condition: Excellent

Markings: “Player’s Bachelor Tipped 20”; “John Player”script; “Tipped”

Date Note: Date is an estimate based on available research and stylistic features. If you have additional information, please contact us to help update our records.

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Made from the following materials

Country:

England

England has a long and distinguished history of toy-making, from the grand Victorian dollhouses of the 19th century to the enduring charm of Merrythought teddy bears. The country became a hub for innovative toy production, introducing classics like Hornby model trains, Meccano construction sets, and Action Man figures. English toy makers have blended craftsmanship with creativity, producing cherished toys that continue to captivate generations.

John Player & Sons, founded in Nottingham, England in 1877, was one of Britain’s leading tobacco manufacturers and a key part of the Imperial Tobacco Company from 1901. Best known for its widely distributed cigarette brands and collectable cigarette cards, the company became deeply embedded in everyday life across Britain and the Commonwealth. Items such as toy or “dolly” cigarette packs, often styled after real products like Player’s Bachelor, reflect early 20th-century social norms where children’s play frequently mirrored adult behaviours. Though not always directly manufactured by the company, these miniature sets are now valued as important artefacts of advertising history and changing attitudes toward smoking and childhood.

Produced by:

John Player & Sons

Product Code:

T0218

Dimenions:

30(h)

x 30(w)