Our Directory of British Issuers (RB.7, published in 1946) tells us that Bocnal Tobacco Co. were based at 9, Bonhill Street, London E.C.2. and that it was only quite recently founded, in 1934. It then says "Now Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation, Luton" - but more about that in a minute.
Their major brand as Bocnal was "Newgent", as seen on the back of our card here, but that was only sold through newsagents. Then there was "Clifton", "Corktip"", "Plane", "Supertips", and "Fifteens" , the packets of which carry not a single reference to Bocnal, only "The Better Blend - The Big Cigarette with the Big Reputation. Fifteens Tobacco Co. Ltd. London, England."
In our original World Tobacco Issues Index some of this is cleared up, because the header for our company says ; "Founded 1934. Later became The Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation, Luton. Cards issued 1938". In fact under the name of Bocnal they only issued two sets, ours, which is described as :
LUMINOUS SILHOUETTES OF BEAUTY AND CHARM. Sm. 66 x 36. Cream-yellow on black background. Back in shades of grey to grey-brown. Nd. (25)... B80-1.
The same text appears in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, but with a new code, B502-200
The other was a set of cards in full colour which were called "Proverbs Up To Date" and is presumed to have been issued abroad.
The same original World Tobacco Issues Index also has a bit about Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation Ltd., Luton, which first issued cards in South Africa, between 1948 and 1949, at which time they called themselves Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation (South Africa) Ltd., Johannesburg." Their first set of fifty cards was "History of Aviation", but then, unfortunately, they ran into a problem with government restrictions, and their "Famous British Ships" could not be issued. However, rather than scrapping them, they sent them to England, where they were issued as two sets, Series No.1 and 2, each of twenty-five cards, in 1952 - this explains why their backs are in English and Afrikaans.
Single cards seem to have been exempt from governmental interference, because in 1951 they had produced a single card, postcard sized, of Vic Toweel, the boxer, who was fighting against Boland in Johannesburg. This was presented, on the night, to attendees, as part of a small package of two cigarettes and this card, which was branded for "Mills" and "Yank" Cigarettes. Did they intend it to be the start of a set of boxers? I guess we will never know.
Anyway in 1954 they seem to have become allied with Phillip Allman and renamed themselves Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation Ltd., Luton, England. Again they only issued two sets, each of twenty-five cards, "Propelled Weapons" (1953) and "Kings of England" (1954).
Then, in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, it reveals that in the late 1950s they took the "Mills" brand to Mauritius, and issued over thirty sets between 1959 and 1961.