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 749273.4.13
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, ‘COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.' The central coat of arms consists of a blue shield. In the centre of the shield is a smaller grey shield with a red vertically aligned cross with thin blue and grey outline. There are five grey stars on the red cross, one in the centre, then one on each arm of it. The blue section bordering the central shield features six additional very small shields, one at the bottom point, three evenly spaced along the top edge, and then one each on either side. Above the shield is a blue and white entwined rope running horizontally, with a gold star above it. The shield is supported by a kangaroo on the left, and an emu on the right. A banner beneath the crest reads 'ADVANCE AUSTRALIA.'On the rear of the card is decorative scrolling and the text at the top reads 'No13 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 Commonwealth of Australia were assigned by Royal Warrant in 1908, and shew the kangaroo and emu, which with the motto, had been adopted for Australia at a much earlier date. The stars on the shield and crest are indicative of the Southern Cross. Australia was first sighted by de Gonneville, a French navigator in 1503.'