According to the backs of the set of "Well Known Proverbs", Edward Newbegin founded his company in 1807. The cards were issued between 1900 and 1908. And their top selling brand was "Mabel Love Cigarettes", named after the celebrated beauty, who appeared on hundreds, if not thousands of picture postcards.
We know that his full name was Edward Joseph Newbegin, and we think he was born in the early 1790s. We know that he was born in Norwich, and that he inherited the business from his father, but then it is said that retired and allowed a man called Adcock to take it over. That company then became Adcock & Son of Norwich.
However in 1863 we know that our man did not retire, he moved to Sunderland in County Durham and he opened another company at the former Eagle Works Tobacco, Cigarette and Snuff Manufacturer and Tavern. This was based at 201 High St. And if you look at the base of our card it has a logo on the right hand side that is an eagle with his initials entwined within it.
Two years later he was back in Norwich, getting married to a local lady, who was in her thirties. He then took her up to Sunderland, and they had five sons.
He died in January 1892, aged sixty-two
This set is described in our World Tobacco Issues Indexes as :
ACTORS AND ACTRESSES etc. (A). Sm. 60 x 39 Black and white photos, inscribed at base "Newbegin`s Cigarettes. Est. 1807". Unnd. 40 known. See H.299 and Ha. 299.
And I will look at those tomorrow!