This is what everyone thinks of when they think of the sea, a boat. And as an island nation we soon gained a reputation for being good sailors, though the truth is that we could only use a boat if we needed to leave.
It was also the only way for any other countries to invade us.
Amazingly the first incarnation of an English Naval Force was only devised in the twelfth century. As for the proper Royal Navy, this began in 1546, when Henry VIII formed a Navy Royal, of twenty-four ships. Sadly it was abandoned, and only reestablished in 1660, when King Charles II came to power - and, amazingly, five years later he could boast of having a hundred and two ships that he could call on.
This set is completely anonymous, but if you look in the "Z" section of our original World Tobacco Issues Index you will find it listed under overseas issues through B.A.T., "section 2.C - issues 1919-40" and sub section "(a) Home and Sundry issues", listed as :
EVOLUTION OF THE BRITISH NAVY. Sm. 67 x 35. Nd. (50). See RB.13/62. Issued by Godfrey Phillips. ... ZB5-2.
Actually they are also listed in that volume under Godfrey Phillips, between "Empire Industries" and "Famous Boys", but without a card code, it only says :
EVOLUTION OF THE BRITISH NAVY. Anonymous - see Set ZB5-2
The updated World Tobacco Issues Index says the same for both entries, with the exception of the removal of the RB.13 code.
That missing RB.13 code is a trail to our original Godfrey Phillips reference book, published in 1949, which is obviously how it was known for the World Tobacco Issues Index that they were the issuers. This reads
62. 50 EVOLUTION OF THE BRITISH NAVY. Small cards, size 67 x 35 m/m. Fronts printed by letterpress in colour. Backs per Fig 12 in grey-black ; Phillips` name does not appear on the cards which are thus anonymous. Issued 1930.
It is probably also why they do not appear in our B.A.T. reference book. I have checked now.