Our second clue card referred to an ancient term for August, because in Anglo- Saxon days it was known as Weed Month, simply because this is the time when everything in the garden is growing very rapidly, including the weeds. Though it is also very likely that they treasured those weeds, which gave them materials for medicinal purposes and dyes with which to enhance their clothing.
Intriguingly the Anglo Saxon for month was Monath - and this comes from the "Saxon" part of their language. And even today, the German for month is Monat.
I have to say I love this set, and it also has another happy memory because I first saw it as part of the exhibits at the wonderful House of Pipes in Bramber, Sussex. In addition the fifty cards contain many subjects that I like, but the gardener is one of my especial favourites, for he is so lifelike to a typical gardener of yore, most of whom we will never be privileged to meet again. Of course the "Weed" referred to is simply tobacco, not drugs, though both versions can prove equally addictive. And the cards poke a gentle, wistful, kind of fun at those who have become addicted, for the word "Votaries" means those who worship, or become devoted to some person, place, or object.
The set is listed in our Gallaher reference book RB.4, published in 1944. Again no card code, and no date either. though other sets do have them. However it seems universally accepted that the set was issued in 1916. That book records them as :
50. VOTARIES OF THE WEED (titled series). Size 2 1/2" x 1 1/2". Numbered 1-50 Fronts lithographed in full colours to resemble coloured pen and ink drawings, no marginal lines or subject titles. "Gallaher`s Cigarettes" in script letters. Backs printed in sage green with descriptions and "Issued by Gallaher Ltd., Belfast & London"
This set may be collected on A. Cream card - B. Grey-white card
Now the above is most intriguing, to me, anyway, because it makes a great deal of saying that the fronts "resemble coloured pen and ink drawings" and they do not mention that they were actually from drawings, by a very famous artist, Kyd, whose monogram appears on every card.
His real name was Joseph Clayton Clarke, and he also has another cartophilic claim to fame, for he drew the artwork for John Player & Sons` set of "Characters from Dickens" in 1910. In the Dickens set, he freely admitted that his work had been heavily influenced by the drawings used in the books, from the pens of such as Phiz and Seymour. However our set shows that his talent was present without such inspiration. In fact I think I would have preferred to see him interpret the Dickens set from his own mind, just as we all conjure up our own ideas of the character`s faces inside of us whenever we read a book
My trusty London Cigarette Card Company catalogue for 1955 tells me that these were then being retailed at 3/6d to 10/- a card, or £25 for a complete set. Now usually if there is a range of prices for the odds it is that the first and last cards were more expensive in good condition or better. But I have to wonder if some of these cards, maybe even the gardener, were in higher demand from collectors?
Rather sadly, by the time of our World Tobacco Issues Indexes, this wonderful and lyrical description is very reduced - to simply "Sm. Nd. (50)"
And there is not a mention of there being different card stocks either. Perhaps the difference was not so spectacular as it could have been, and people no longer notice, but if you have a set do see if you can spot any differences and report back, for old times sake.