Issued in 1937 in the UK, the Characters from Shakespeare 25-card set of Typhoo tea cards features the most memorable characters from many of Shakespeare’s plays. The front of each card includes a photo of the character with a short summary of the character’s role in the play. The back of each card displays an advertisement for The Works of William Shakespeare, a complete collection of Shakespeare’s plays and poems. This interesting card set served as a reference guide for Shakespeare’s plays and is now a collector’s item.
No. 14 – KING HENRY V (King Henry V)
Before Harfleur and on the field of Agincourt, Shakespeare’s King Henry V rallied his army in words that have stirred the hearts of his countrymen ever since. Nor were his conquests confined to the battlefield, for he wont the heart of Katherine, daughter of Charles the Sixth of France, and made her his Queen.
No. 15 – MARK ANTONY (Julius Caesar)
The murder of his friend, Julius Caesar, moved Mark Antony to wrath against the conspirators, led by Cassius and Brutus. Before the bier of his dead friend in the forum at Rome, Antony so roused the populace that they turned against the murderers, who fled, subsequently losing their lives in battle against Antony at Philippi.
No. 17 – CLEOPATRA (Antony and Cleopatra)
For love of Cleopatra, Mark Antony set aside the glory of Rome and forgot his cunning in war. Subsequently, defeated by Octavius Caesar at the Battle of Actium, he fell upon his sword to die in the arms of Cleopatra, who rather than fall into Caesar’s hands, suffered death by the bite of an asp.
No. 19 – ROMEO AND JULIET (Romeo and Juliet)
Son and daughter of the rival families of Montague and Capulet, Romeo and Juliet fell madly in love. For slaying Tybalt in a duel, Romeo was banished from Verona but, hearing news of Juliet’s supposed death, returned to die by her side. Juliet woke from her dealthlike swoon and, beholding Romeo dead, stabbed herself.
No. 22 – HAMLET (Hamlet)
The King of Denmark was poisoned by his brother Claudius, who seized the throne. Hamlet; urged by his conscience and his father’s ghost, resolved to avenge these wrongs. Yet it was only after much hesitation and vexation of spirit that Hamlet at last avenged his father