Lot 180: A Collection of Early to Mid-20th Century British Cigarette Cards

This lot comprises a large collection of cigarette cards, primarily of British origin, printed on vintage cardstock. The cards are organized into numerous bundles within a clear plastic rectangular storage container. A wide variety of manufacturers are represented with legible printed marks including WILLS’S CIGARETTES, W.D. & H.O. WILLS, JOHN PLAYER & SONS, CHURCHMAN’S CIGARETTES, PARK DRIVE, and THE BLACK CAT. The assortment features multiple thematic series with printed titles such as ROSES, FLOWERING TREES & SHRUBS, ANIMALS, COMMON SEAL, THE NAVY, THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, and RAILWAY ENGINES. Individual cards include depictions of national flags for TUNISIA and JAPAN, characters from MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT, and a portrait of CHARLES COBORN. Many cards feature detailed descriptive text on the reverse, with some bearing printed years including 1926 and 1928. No other maker’s marks, signatures, or labels are visible on the items.