Cigarette card
Category
Ephemera
Date
Unknown
Materials
card
Measurements
35 mm (Width) x 0.5 mm (Depth); 68 mm (Length)
Order this imageCollection
Mr Straw's House, Nottinghamshire
NT 749273.4.10
Summary
One of a set of 50 of Will's Cigarette cards 'Arms of the British Empire'. The first of three partail sets of cigarette cards kept in a wooden box with two compartments, a metal hinged lid painted red with a yellow / orange flower and card suit design. On the front of the card, at the top, is the title 'ARMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.' To the left of the central coat of arms image it reads 'WILLS's, and then to the right 'CIGARETTES.' Beneath the image is the location the arms originate from, ‘MAURITIUS.' The central coat of arms consists of a blue and gold shield split into four sections, supported by a dodo to the left of the crest and a Sambur deer on the right, both red and white patterned. There is also a sugar cane on either side of the shield. The top left quarter show a gold ship on blue background, the top right three green palms on a gold background, the bottom left a red key on gold background and on the bottom right, a grey pyramid with a star on top, on a blue background. A banner beneath reads 'STELLA CLAVISQUE MARIS INDICI.'On the rear of the card is decorative scrolling and the text at the top reads 'No10 ARMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, 'WILLS'S CIGARETTES. The text at the base reads 'W.D. & H.O. WILLS.' BRISTOL & LONDON. ISSUED BY THE IMPERIAL TOBACCO Co. (OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND)Ltd' Down either side of the card there is text running vertically which in its entirety reads 'ALBUMS FOR THESE PICTURE CARDS CAN BE OBTAINED AT 1/- EACH FROM ALL TOBACCONISTS.' In the centre of the rear of the card the decoration creates a box for information specific to the location portrayed on the card. In this instance it reads ‘These arms, assigned in 1906, are chiefly remarkable for the supporters, a dodo and a Sambur deer. The sugar canes on either side of the shield allude to the staple industry of the island. The star and key have reference to the motto. The parti-colouring of the supporters was suggested by the personal arms of the Governor, Sir Cavendish Boyle, K.C.M.G.'