Lastly we had “Count”, which is the simplest mathematical problem of all, until you run out of fingers and toes, of course.
The most interesting fact I found out about counting is that every Roman numeral up to a hundred can be made out of sticks or rods - just look at numbers I, II, and III. We call them Roman numerals like they died out long ago - but in actual fact they are still used today in many ways, especially on clocks, watches and sundials.
This set was issued in two versions, described in our World Tobacco Issues Index, as :
MODERN STATESMEN. Sm. Nd.(25)
A. Back “Hignett`s Pioneer Cigarettes”
B. Back “Hignett`s Butterfly Cigarettes”
There was some discussion about whether this set ought to have been called “Portrait Series”, the wording which appears in the top border. In the end it was decided that “Modern Statesmen” was to be the set title.
It was never issued by Ogdens.
Count Mensdorff was a fascinating character, the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador in England since 1904, and he seems to have been keen on maintaining friendly relations with England. Sadly he died, of starvation, in Austria in June 1945. There is a story there, but almost certainly too sad a one for me to look into