Card of the Day - 2022-06-09

When Texas became part of the United States in 1845, a 28th star was added to the flag. The 28-star flag became official on July 4, 1846, and was in use for just one year before another star was added, for Iowa. That is why it is so wonderful that it is immortalised here. 

Now this card is anonymous, and the back is blank, however it is actually in the World Tobacco Issues Index as “Flags of Nations”. That tells us the card measures 68 x 37 m/m and that the flag was printed separately on paper then stuck to a thick white card with gilt printing, however it is unnumbered, though we know there are thirty of them in the set. Our original World Tobacco Issues Index, anonymous section, says it was “Issued in U.K., probably by Cope”, and it is cross referenced in the Cope section as well, where it says “For Anonymous issue probably by the firm, see Set ZJ2-26”. 

The mystery is partially solved by H.114, which I intend to scan, not type out. It is even more intriguing when you read H41, so lets add that too! 

Our more recent World Tobacco Issues Index tells us that this set was issued by Cope with “Bond of Union” brand (C798-110) and in India through A. Haji Dossul & Sons, Karachi”, whose name appears on the cards (C798-180). These are said to have a blue scroll back.

This book also explains more about the manufacture of them, telling us that the card was pre printed with the mast and the caption, both in gilt, and that it was the flag that was stuck into place. I have not found why this happened. Any ideas?