Card of the Day - 2021-11-28

At one time Christmas lights, in the house, and on the tree, would be candles, perilously perched in close proximity to flammable pine needles. You may be thinking thankfully nowadays we are far more safety conscious, but, of course, at that time, and especially in the home of the Christmas tree, Europe, candle power was all there was.

So to my original vintage limited edition volume of the Cartophilic Reference Book, number 10, “The Cigarette Card Issues of W.A. & A.C. Churchman”, issued in 1948, and written by Edward Wharton Tigar. I notice his initials are E.C.W.T., and my curiosity wonders what the “C” stood for. I will have to go on a hunt, unless any of you know? I know a few readers who might... According to the inside front cover, this is “the first illustrated handbook”. Now that book is still available, but as a reprint, so it has a plain green cover with the written details rather than the original ornate one with the Art Nouveau centre image, but all the inside copy is exactly as it was printed in 1948. This can be found in our bookshop, and yes you can buy online right now by all manner of monetary devices; it is also available to non-members, both at home and overseas, at a slightly higher price. Our bookshop is one of the things that we are working on right now; thank you for your patience to all who asked about it.

Inside the book, it lists this set as No.79, and dates it to November 1929, these dates coming from either Churchman themselves or from the printer Mardon, Son & Hall. It is a set of 25 cards, titled, and numbered 1-25. The fronts were printed by letterpress, using the four colour halftone process; the backs in dark green, with descriptions.