The header for Dominion Tobacco in both our World Tobacco Issues Indexes says "New Zealand Associate of B.A.T. Cards issued period 1925-30". The listing reads : COACHES AND COACHING DAYS. Sm. 67 x 37. Nd. (50). See W/175"
We know that they grew their own tobacco, and that they were registered as a private company on October the 18th, 1927, with their registered office at 170 Featherston Street, Wellington. That premises is now an electrical store, a branch of the huge Noel Leeming chain. Sadly, Dominion were later bought out by Godfrey Phillips. We are not sure what happened to their evocative brand names - "Rugby", "Silver Fern", and "Tasman Toasted Flake", to name but a few.
Now this set is not the only version, nor the one you are most likely to see. That one appears in a previous newsletter as the diary card for Tuesday 30th of May 2023. It was issued by W.D. & H.O. Wills, and our Wills reference book, part four, lists their version as :
175. 50 COACHES AND COACHING DAYS. Fronts printed by letterpress in colour. Backs in grey, with descriptive text. Issued in New Zealand, between 1925 - 30. Similar series issued by Dominion Tobacco Co. Ltd., Wellington.
In fact the cards are identical, except for the bottom panel on the reverse, which on our set says "DOMINION TOBACCO CO. LTD. / WELLINGTON", as opposed to "W.D. & H.O. WILLS / BRISTOL & LONDON".