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 749273.4.26
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, ‘FIJI.' The central coat of arms consists of a shield, across the top of which there is a horizontal red band with a gold lion on it. The majority of the shield is split into four by a red cross of St. George, the top left quarter containing sugar canes, the top right a coconut palm, the bottom right an olive branch, and the bottom left a dove. A Fijian canoe sits above the shield, and the shield itself is supported by two shirtless native men wearing bark kilts. The figure on the left holds a barbed spear, and the person on the right has a pineapple club.On the rear of the card is decorative scrolling and the text at the top reads 'No26 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 Fiji, assigned by Royal Warrant in 1908, shew the English Cross of St. George between sugarcanes, a cocoanut palm, a dove with olive branch, and a bunch of bananas. The crest is a Fijian canoe with outrigger. The supporting natives wear kilts of mulberry bark cloth. One has a barbed spear, the other a pine-apple club. The motto means 'Fear God, honour the King.'