So here we are in the 1920s. And I have been waiting to use this card for a while - in fact it is the reason for this week`s theme. As to why, well, it is another complex set with several issuers, too many to have as a newsletter card, but also they require scrolling, whilst cards of the day provide a direct link.
I also believed it to be the earliest card of a "Mountie" in existence, but I have been told that is incorrect, for in 1901 Cohen Weenen & Co. had one in their "Home and Colonial Regiments", as part of the `100 Series`, which you can see as part of the George Arents Collection at the New York Public Library
By the time our card was issued the North West Police was no more, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had taken their place. That happened in 1920, with the joining together of the assorted Dominion police forces and the North West Mounted Police.
There is another unusual fact that I have not yet mentioned though, as though they are concerned with protection and legality, their legislation describes them as "peace officers", not "police officers"
This set is actually first recorded in our original Ogden`s reference book, RB.15, first issued in 1949, as :
- 131. 25 PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Fronts lithographed in colour. Backs in grey, with descriptive text. Home issue, 1927. Similar series issued by B.A.T., Player, United Tobacco Co. (South Africa) and Wills.
It is then mentioned in our reference book RB.16 – The Cigarette Card Issues of W.D. & H.O. Wills Parts I, II, and III (revised) and Part IV, published in 1950, as :
- 288. 25 PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Fronts printed by letterpress in colour. Backs in grey, with descriptive text. Issued in New Zealand, between 1925-1930. Similar series issued by Ogden, Player, and United Tobacco Companies, (South) Ltd., South Africa.
There are two important things about this.
The first is that the Wills version was produced by a different printing method to our Ogden`s set. This may lead you to think that the Wills version was produced locally overseas before being circulated, but this is incorrect, as the printing date appears in the list supplied to us by Messrs W.D. & H.O. Wills, namely November 1928. And this was a list of all sets printed in the UK and exported for distribution.
And the second is that the mention of a fifth version, by B.A.T., has already been removed.
The next version to feature in a reference book is the one by John Player, in RB.17, also published in 1950. That reads :
- 147. 25 PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Small cards. Fronts in colour. Backs in grey, with illustration of `Drumhead` packet, Overseas issue, October 1928. Similar series issued by Ogden, Wills, and United Tobacco Co`s,South Africa.
Sadly they do not mention the printing process at all. But it is curious that this version was issued before the Wills one.
The last time it appears in one of our early, small reference books, it is a round up, as part of RB.17, covering the issues of the British American Tobacco Company, which was published in 1952. That reads :
- 200-288 PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. The recordings in W/288, RB.15/131 and RB.17/147 are summarised below.
A. Wills` Overseas issue
B. Player Overseas issue, with `Drumhead` cigarettes.
C. U.T.C. issue
D. Ogden Home issue.
It is in the front index of this book that we discover the countries of issue - Wills being "1928 - New Zealand", Player being "1938 - Malaya and Siam", U.T.C. being "1929". Ogden`s version, being a home issue, and nothing to do with British American Tobacco, does not appear in the index.
In our World Tobacco Issues Index these sets are again parted. Our Ogdens version can be found under section 4, for "Issues with I.T.C. Clause. All issued in U.K. Small size 67 x 36 unless stated", and sub-section 4.B, for "Issues 1922-39", as :
- PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Sm. Nd. (25). See RB.21/200-288.D ... O/2-164.
This text remains the same in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, but there is a new card code, of O100-550
As for the other issuers, their issues are recorded in the World Tobacco Issues Indexes as :
John Player :
original W.T.I. - under section 3, for "Export issues without I.T.C. Clause, issued through B.A.T.", and sub-section 3.B, for "Issues 1923-30. Chiefly in New Zealand, Malaya and Siam" as :
- PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Sm. Nd. (25). See RB.21/200-288.B ... P72-196.
updated W.T.I. - under section 4, for "Export issues without I.T.C. Clause, issued through B.A.T.", and sub-section 4.B, for "Issues 1923-30. Chiefly in New Zealand, Malaya and Siam. Small size 67-68 x 35-36, unless otherwise stated" as :
- PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Sm. Nd. (25). See RB.21/200-288.B ... P644-632
The United Tobacco Companies (South) Ltd :
original W.T.I - under section 2, for "Issues 1918-43" and sub-section 2.A, for "Cards in English only" - as opposed to "Cards in English and Afrikaans", as :
- PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Sm.67 x 36. Nd. (25). See RB.21/200-288.C ... U14-26
updated W.T.I - under section 2, for "Issues 1918-43" and sub-section 2.A, for "Cards in English only" - as opposed to "Cards in English and Afrikaans", as :
- PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Sm.67 x 36. Nd. (25). See RB.21/200-288.C ... U560-510
W.D. & H.O. Wills :
original W.T.I - under section 5, for "Other Export issues" and sub-section 5.B, for "English Language Issues, 1923-30. Issued chiefly in New Zealand, some series in Malaya, Malta, and elsewhere", as :
- PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Sm. Nd. (25). See RB.21/200-288.A ... W62-463
updated W.T.I - under section 6, for "Other Export issues" and sub-section 6.B, for "English Language Issues, 1923-30. Issued chiefly in New Zealand, some series in Malaya, Malta, and elsewhere", as :
- PICTURESQUE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE. Sm. Nd. (25). See RB.21/200-288.A ... W675-665