This is a curious set, for Cavanders actually issued it twice, and sometimes you will find it called a set but containing both variations of reverse, in which case it is more correctly two part sets.
In our original World Tobacco Issues Index both sets are described together, as :
FEATHERED FRIENDS or FOREIGN BIRDS. Sm. 63 x 38. Nd. (25). See Ha.516 ... C48-14.B
A. Titled "Feathered Friends"
B. Titled "Foreign Birds"
Another look in the Handbook has found Ha.516, in the early London Cigarette Card one, which reads :
Ha.516. FEATHERED FRIENDS or FOREIGN BIRDS (titled series). Front in colour. Numbered series of 25.
Abdulla - titled "Feathered Friends"
Cavanders - A. titled "Feathered Friends"
B. titled "Foreign Birds"
Phillips - titled "Feathered Friends"
ln our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, our set(s) are catalogued as :
FEATHERED FRIENDS or FOREIGN BIRDS. Sm. 63 x 38. Nd. (25). See RB.113/70 ... C230-280.B
A. Titled "Feathered Friends" (overseas issue)
B. Titled "Foreign Birds". Proofs are known with backs in violet and firm`s name mis-spelt "Cavender`s"
I have not seen any of these "Cavender`s" cards, but they do sound intriguing.
Now that we know that Cavanders was not the only issue, we notice the RB.113 here, which is the updated Godfrey Phillips Reference Book. Also both Abdulla and Godfrey Phillips had original reference books, Abdulla sharing booklet RB.5 with Adkin and Anstie, and Godfrey Phillips having RB.13 all on its own. The text from the Abdulla book appears elsewhere on this site, but as for the Godfrey Phillips book, which I presumed would be the most informative, it just says :
70. 25. FEATHERED FRIENDS. Small cards, size 64 x 38 m/m. Fronts printed by letterpress in colour, gold border. Backs in green, with descriptive text. Issued 1928. Two grades of board (a) white (b) cream backs. Similar series issued by Abdulla and Cavander. ("Feathered Friends" and "Foreign Birds").
To close, a little price comparison from the London Cigarette Card Company c Catalogue for 1955. They quoted the Abdulla at 1 1/2d a card or 5/- a set, but admitted that special offers of the set appeared in their smaller, abridged catalogue. The Cavanders were split, with the "Feathered Friends" version retailing at 9d. a card or 27/6 a set, and the "Foreign Birds at 6d. a card or 17/6 a set. Finally, the Godfrey Phillips version were 1/- a card or 4/6 a set.