Between 1875 and the 1940s, cigarette companies often included collectible cards with their packages of cigarettes. Cigarette card sets document popular culture from the turn of the century, often depicting the period’s actresses, costumes, and sports, as well as offering insights into mainstream humor and culture. This early card was issued by H. Ellis & Company in 1889 to promote Tiger Cigarettes.
Beginning in 1875, cards depicting actresses, baseball players, Native American chiefs, boxers, national flags, or wild animals were issued by the U.S-based Allen & Ginter tobacco company. These are considered to be some of the first cigarette cards.[2] Other tobacco companies such as Goodwin & Co. soon followed suit. This is a Goodwin card issued in 1890.
One of the most popular of the tobacco inserts or premiums was the tobacco or cigarette “silk”. While they are called silks, they were actually made from a variety of fabrics such as silk or silk satin, a cloth combination of silk and cotton, a cotton sateen or even a plain woven cotton. The silks were often beautifully poly-chrome printed with varied subjects, and were usually printed with the tobacco company name. This silk was part of a series of 50 named dogs and still has the thin paper backing that was printed with the pedigree and other information. This silk was issued in 1913, right in the middle of the heyday of textile inserts which ran from 1910-1916. Next to it is the same card issued on paper.
By the early 1900’s cigarette cards had established an almost fanatical following with thousands of different sets being issued by more than 300 cigarette manufacturers, all competing with each other to sell their products and establish brand loyalty. In those days it was a common sight to see children standing outside a shop asking ‘can I have your fag card Mister’. This Ogden card from 1901 is unusual in that it features a real photo reproduction of a named dog.
Due to a shortage of materials caused by the First World War, production of cards ceased and they did not reappear again until 1922. This Willis card from 1914 was one of the last released before the war moratorium.
These two cards issued by Players cigarettes in 1929 and 1931 feature illustrations by the renown animal artist Arthur Wardle.
This card is part of a set issued in 1910 called Dogs of the World illustrated by the well-known illustrator Cecil Aldin for Copes cigarettes.
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