Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland, Wills's cigarette cards
Creation: circa 1928Abstract
The Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland is a multinational manufacturer of tobacco products, including multiple cigarette and cigar brands. This set of fifty cigarette cards illustrates "engineering wonders" from around the world. Each card has a color lithograph illustration on one side and a description on the other side.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1928
Creator
- Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland (Organization)
Extent
50 item(s)
Physical Description
50 lithographic prints : color ; 7 x 3.5 mm.
Historical Note
The Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland is a multinational manufacturer of tobacco products, including multiple cigarette and cigar brands. The formation of Imperial came about due to the threat of competition from The American Tobacco Company (ATC), spearheaded by ATC's head, James Buchanan Duke (1856-1925).
In response to Duke's takeover attempt, thirteen family-run tobacco businesses met in December 1901 and formed the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland; Sir William Henry Wills (1830-1911) (who became Lord Winterstoke in 1906) was elected as the chairman. Imperial continued to work as separate companies, trading under their own names and being responsible for their own sales and manufacture.
The firm's home office was established in Great Britain, with branches in Ireland. The American headquarters of the company was established in Richmond, Virginia, and branches are operated throughout the southeastern United States.
By 1960, the company began refocusing its mission in a more diversified manner. This focus was away from tobacco and more toward the food, drink, and leisure industries. In 1969, it changed its name to Imperial Tobacco Group Limited.
Scope and Contents
This set of fifty cigarette cards illustrates "engineering wonders" from around the world. Each card has a color lithograph illustration on one side and a description on the other side. Subjects include bridges, canals, coal trade, dams, escalators, harbors, iron industry and trade, power plants, shipbuilding, skyscrapers, steel industry and trade, telescopes, and transportation. Countries shown include Arabia, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Great Britain, Panama, Rhodesia, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States of America.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access, this collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Subjects
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland, Wills's cigarette cards
- Author:
- Jon Williams
- Date:
- 2002
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2024: Laurie Sather
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository
