Lot 55: A Collection of Approximately 1,000 Early to Mid-20th Century British Cigarette and Trade Cards

A large assortment of approximately 1,000 vintage cigarette and trade cards, primarily of British origin and dating from the early to mid-20th century. The collection features series from major manufacturers including W.D. and H.O. Wills, Gallaher Ltd, Lambert and Butler, and Brooke Bond and Co. Ltd. The cards cover a broad range of subjects such as heraldry with Wills’s Borough Arms, animals and wildlife including Dogs and Gallaher Ltd’s African Wild Life, and historical topics including Nelson’s Last Signals and Boston School. Aviation and maritime themes are represented by Lambert and Butler’s Aviation series, naval vessels such as H.M.S. Narwhal, and maritime signal flags. Visible printed marks include WILLS’S CIGARETTES, W.D. and H.O. WILLS BRISTOL and LONDON, GALLAHER Ltd. VIRGINIA HOUSE, LONDON and BELFAST, LAMBERT and BUTLER’S CIGARETTES, and BROOKE BOND TEA. The collection is housed in a clear plastic storage tub and the majority of the cards are grouped into bundles.