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 749273.4.11
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, ‘CAPE COLONY.' The central coat of arms consists of a red shield with a gold lion on it, surrounded by three gold rings. Across the top of the shield is a horizontal grey band with a line of three blue circles, each featuring a gold crown. Topping the shield is the figure of a woman in a pale blue robe, supporting an anchor and leaning on a stump. The shield is supported by two creatures, on the left is a horned brown deer-like figure with a mane and a red tongue known as a 'gnn' and on the right there is an 'oryx' which is similar in appearance except it is grey and has longer horns, no visible tongue and no mane. A banner beneath reads 'SPES BONA'.On the rear of the card is decorative scrolling and the text at the top reads 'No11 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 ‘The arms of the colony (now united with the Transvaal, Natal, and the Orange River Colony) were assigned by Royal Warrant in 1876. The crest is the figure of Hope, and the supporters are a gnn and an oryx or gemsbok. The annulets are from the arms of Van Riebeck, the founder of the colony.'