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 749273.4.17
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, ‘NEW SOUTH WALES.' The central coat of arms consists of a shield featuring the Cross of St. George in red, splitting the blue background into four quarters. The top left and bottom right quarters each feature a single gold sheep hanging from its middle. The top right and bottom left feature a gold wheat sheaf. There is a gold lion in the middle of the cross and four gold stars, one on each arm of the cross. Above the shield there is a gold sun, its lower section missing to illustrate that it is rising. On the left of the crest there is a gold lion, and on the right a gold kangaroo. Beneath the crest is the motto 'ORTA RECENS QUAM PURA NITES'.On the rear of the card is decorative scrolling and the text at the top reads 'No17 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 by Royal Warrant in 1906, are based upon a design formerly in use. It includes the Cross of St. George and the lion of England; the garbs (wheatsheaves) and fleeces typify the agricultural products of the colony. The rising sun forming the crest alludes to the motto: "Newly arisen, how clearly dost thou shine!"'