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 749273.4.6
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, ‘TRANSVAAL.' The central coat of arms consists of an oval shaped badge with a gold border, two arrow points appear beneath the oval, an eagle with spread wings sits atop it, and three spear topped flag poles protrude from either side of the oval badge, draping down flags. Each flag has a green band running parallel to the pole then a red stripe runs in at a right angle to meet it, below that a white stripe, and below that a blue. The main section of the oval is split into three, the lower half being green with a brown wagon on it, the top left quarter featuring a gold lion on a red background, and the top right a soldier with gun, in buff coloured uniform on a blue and green background. A small grey shield sits in the centre of the oval over the top of the main design, featuring an anchor. A banner below reads 'EENDRACHT MAAKT MACT.On the rear of the card is decorative scrolling and the text at the top reads 'No6 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 'There are no arms in existence as yet for the British colony, though the badge of a lion couchant is frequently used. The arms shewn are those of the former South African Republic, the flags being the Vieurkleur. The wagon is typical of the original trek from Cape Colony, to which the anchor is an allusion.'