Card of the Day - 2022-09-27

Cigarillos Cumbre
Santiago Gutierrez Martin [tobacco : OS : Canary Islands] "Flags of the World " (1969) 17/130 - M375-310

Here is a question for you. Which was the first country to entirely ban the sale of tobacco and to make it illegal to smoke in all public areas? Well, amazingly, it was Bhutan, and it was way back in 2004. More recently they also made it illegal to smuggle tobacco into the country from outside it. And they are also a carbon-negative country! 

The capital city is still the same as on this card, Thimphu or Thimbu, and it is the largest city. It is situated in the Himalaya mountains. However it was only made the capital in 1961, before that it moved about, following the King on his travels. I have not been able to find why the card says Butan, not Bhutan, but I suspect it may be the Spanish version of the name? Any Spanish readers out there? 

In itself this card is a curious one, it comes from Gran Canaria, and several sets were issued including film stars. The cards are a bit misleading because they say "Obsequio do Cigarrillos Cumbre" - however "Obsequio do" just means given with or issued with, it is not part of the issuers name. Strangely none of this phrase is the issuers` name, for "Cigarillos" are small cigars and "Cumbre" is the brand. The cards were actually issued by Santiago Gutierrez Martin, who is a well known name to all brandophilists - or collectors of cigar bands. 

I have not been able to find any other cards of Bhutan either - do you know any????