Card of the Day - 2022-04-12

You wont find this set in our original World Tobacco Issues Index, because that was published in 1956, though the issuer, Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation, is there, from which we learn that it was “associated with Phillip Allman, 1954 [and was] trading in 1956; also that it “includes brand issues inscribed “Mills” and “Yank” Cigarettes.”

These issues started with the rather unlucky South African medium sized card series “Famous British Ships” (A495-030 : A46-1)  and “History of Aviation” (A495-040 : A46-2), printed but “not used” because of government restrictions, though they were brought back to this country and issued here in 1952; and the curious postcard which was given away with two free cigarettes at the 1951 boxing match between Vic Toweel and ? Boland (A495-990 : A46-11).

Then there are two issues listed as being issued in England, and bearing the Luton location, these date from 1953-1954, and are “Kings of England” (A495-125 : A46-6) and “Propelled Weapons” (A495-135 : A46-7). 

After this pair there was what I could call a hiatus, but which was actually farewell, as these were the last cards issued in the British Isles.

The next issues, including ours, only appear in the updated version of the World Tobacco Issues Index, and this also contains a correction, as the brand “Yank” was actually “Yanx”. These new cards were all issued in Mauritius, though some dealers and collectors still mark them as French. This is because though thirty-three sets were issued with the text in English, four sets were issued in the French language. 

Our set “Animals of the Countryside” is one of the English sets, and it includes this rabbit, symbol of Easter, though technically the Easter rabbit is the Easter Hare. 

It is a curious set because I am not sure that Mauritius has much of the very typical English wildlife depicted. Maybe a Mauritian reader would like to email us and tell us whether this is so? It would be great fun if one of you did…