John Player and Sons Nottingham based tobacco manufactory opened in 1877, becoming one of the major British producers. Although merging with twelve other manufacturers in 1901 to form the Imperial Tobacco Company, they retained their own brand identities. Best known for their Navy Cut tobacco and cigarettes and ‘Hero’ logo of a sailor’s head within a lifebuoy, they developed a number of eye-catching advertising campaigns well into the 1970s.
Player’s “Country Life” mixture originated as pipe tobacco, and in 1907 The Illustrated London News described the cigarettes as “a new and already popular” brand “appreciated by all discriminating smokers”. H M Brock’s country gentleman first appeared in print in 1909 in the Daily Express, Graphic and Field. Mirroring Thorpe’s successful 17th century themed Three Nuns’ adverts from 1902, Player’s rotund early 19th century gent enjoyed a number of outings in various country settings from pruning his roses to watching the ploughman at work. Sporting a pig tail suggesting possible earlier nautical connections (a homage to the Navy Cut brand?) and with faithful spaniel, he radiates calm, contented confidence. He headed The Illustrated London News campaign from July 1923 to September 1924 with a brief renaissance in The Graphic between August 1931 – March 1932.
This advert is no.8 of at least 13, but the only one featuring a firearm. The gun is very much set dressing continuing the sporting theme common in other “Country Life” advertisements.