This set, which does remind me very much of those little pictures you get in the sticks of rock, marks an important date in Blackpool`s story, though when it was issued in 1923 the illuminations were still a distant pre First World War memory.
The first thing I noticed was the number of people crowded on to the beach. And so I looked it up. What I discovered was that is good reason for this, because 1923 was the year of the first ever Blackpool Carnival. It is quoted that over eight days it was possible to find every manner of entertainment, dog shows, dancing, parades, and floats; and that over two million people were there, many of whom could not even find accommodation and had to sleep on the beach. Perhaps some of these are some of those ?
If you look at the back of this card it is a very odd one, no text, and this huge advertisement for Gallaher`s Rich Dark Honey Dew Tobacco, in 1, 2 and 4 oz tins. This was a very popular brand, and it was often advertised with a beautiful and mysterious brunette smouldering against a deep browny black background. I have not been able to find this advertisement yet, but the colour and the way it is drawn suggests it was perhaps a newspaper advert. Can anyone confirm this?
Here is the listing for our set from our original Gallaher reference book, issued in 1944 :
1923. 100 INTERESTING VIEWS (titled series). Size 2 1/2" x 1 1/2". Numbered 1-100. REAL PHOTOGRAPHS. Fronts, toned black and white, glossy finish. "Gallaher`s Cigarettes" in wide margins, subjects titled. Backs, printed in black, "100 Designs", no descriptions, inscribed "A real smoke Gallaher`s Rich Dark Honey Dew Tobacco, " etc. Produced by Phillip G. Hunt & Co., London.
Now Philip G Hunt & Co. are quite well known, as they also printed picture postcards. They moved about a bit, though; in 1912 they were at Paternoster Row in the heart of London, then in the 1920s cards can be found citing Balham High Road in South West London.
And I will stop here because there is something very interesting about this set which will be revealed tomorrow....