Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

More on Those WWI Cigarette and Trade Cards
From Cyril Mazansky

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More on Cigarette and Trade Cards of WWI

The cigarette and trade companies that issued cards on all topics imaginable produced a flurry of card sets, particularly during the first two years of the war. This was particularly so before rationing limited their production. They covered every aspect of the war from the leaders — regal, political, military, and naval — through arms and armor of all types. Scenes from military actions and naval battles were also well illustrated. Other aspects such as propaganda, the home front, and news media were also covered in these cards. The many military awards, especially the Victoria Cross, were covered in detail. Most of the cards had descriptive backs that mostly provided informative material. However, a striking aspect of these descriptions was that they were almost always written in a highly patriotic fashion.

Shown here is a selection of motor vehicles adopted for war presented by Wills's Cigarettes.

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1 comment:

  1. This is very interesting. Wills made Woodbine cigarettes from 1855-1988. I remember my dad smoking them when he came home from WWII. And that's how the WWI poet/padre 'Woodbine Willy' got his nickname--by handing out these cigs to the troops.
    David F. Beer

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