Here we have an ox, in water, pulling a plough, which may seem odd to British eyes, but not when the crop is rice. For rice fields are ploughed, when wet, in just this way, by oxen or buffalo.
This set is first described in our original Wills reference book, part five, or, more correctly, "Cartophilic Reference Book - No.19 : The Cigarette Card Issues of W.D. & H.O. Wills Parts I to IV (revised) and Part V - An Official Checklist Compiled by A Committee of the Cartophilic Society of Great Britain Limited" (or RB.19), which was published in 1951. The entry reads:
- 370. CHINESE TRANSPORT (adopted title). Size 63 x 37 m/m. Unnumbered. Fronts lithographed in colour, captions in Chinese characters. Backs in pink, with illustration of closes `Ruby Queen` packet. There are at least two printings, one with detail more distinct than the other. `Ruby Queen` issue, February, 1914, 41 subjects seen, divided into groups below for ease of listing
Ships and other Water Craft (see also No.45)
1. BAMBOO RAFT in canal, driven by two coolies with poles
2. DRAGON BOAT - long ceremonial rowing vessel with flags, in port
3. FERRY RAFT approaching shore , white coated boatmen and passengers
4. FISHERMEN`S BOAT, half covered, three figures at end, ricks in foreground
5. FISHERMEN`S BOAT, open, with two fishermen and cormorants aboard
6. HABITATION BOAT at anchor, washing hanging at end, small boat at side.
7. JUNK AT SEA, with three sails , small sailing boat in background
8. JUNK IN BACKWATER, one large sail, small open boat at side
9. JUNK IN MOONLIGHT, two sails, reflected in moonlight in water
10.JUNK ON BEACH, two masts, sails folded. two figures in foreground
11. PADDLE STEAMER, white vessel with red flag, black funnel
12. SAMPANS, one empty, one with boatman
13. WARSHIP, white vessel with two funnels, red flag
Mechanically propelled vehicles
14. MOTOR CAR on road
15. TRAIN emerging from tunnel
16. TRAM in city street
Transport with Animals (see also Nos. 42-44 and 46)
17. CAMELS - convoy of camels on outside of city wall.
18. CARRIAGE in street, drawn by two white horses, two drivers in yellow
19. CART - open cart with two passengers and goods, drawn by white horse
20. DONKEYS - two riderless donkeys with saddles, two attendants
21. HORSE, ridden by Chinese, with saddle baskets on either side
22. HORSES, one white, one brown, ridden by ladies in blue
23. HORSES - two horses, laden on both sides with bales of boards
24. OX - by waterside, ridden by coolie
25. WAGON - closed wagon drawn by two brown horses in tandem.
Others (see also No.47)
26. COOLIE in street, carrying large white sack on back
27. COOLIES - two coolies each carrying timber on backs
28. COOLIES - two coolies carrying large packing case suspended on pole
29. PLOUGH - in water, drawn by ox, in morning sunlight
30. RICKSHAW - with two passengers, drawn by barefooted Chinese
31. SEDAN BOX, carried by two coolies
32. SEDAN CHAIR, carried by four coolies
33. STONE ROLLER in street, pulled by four coolies
34. STREET VENDOR carrying long pole with blue suspended baskets
35. STREET VENDOR carrying two baskets of ducks on pole
36. STREET VENDOR with portable stall, two children in background
37. WATER CARRIERS - two coolies, each with two suspended baskets, in river
38. WHEELBARROW with two passengers, pushed by coolie
39. WHEELBARROW with woman with red sunshade, pushed by coolie
40. WHEELBARROWS - two wheelbarrows, first with two packing cases, pushed by coolies
41. WOMAN on road carrying child on back
Similar series issued by African Tobacco Manufacturers, Cape Town (with caption and brief text on back) and by the British Cigarette Co. Ltd., China (blue backs, pictures facing in reverse direction). Anonymous plain-backed cards are known
The following additional subjects are known in the African Tobacco Manufacturers issue, and may later come to light in the `Ruby Queen` issue : -
42. CAMELS - convoy of camels inside of city wall
43. COVERED CART - definitely open on card; three passengers on horse and one ox in tandem; white horse, red saddle
44. COVERED CART - drawn by brown horse, one passenger, driver on foot
45. FERRY BOAT - with packing cases and people. One person on shore.
46. OX CART - black ox, driver in white shirt, blue pants, cart laden
47. RICKSHAW - pulled by coolie; one passenger in white; lady and child in background
48. WATER OX - rider in blue sitting far back on yellow cloth; young one following
The curious thing about this set is that it was printed in London, then shipped out for issue, and we know that because it appears in the list that was first published in the Wills "Works Magazine", then incorporated in our Wills books when they were all reprinted together under hard cover.
By the time of our original World Tobacco Issues Index the set appears as :
- CHINESE TRANSPORT (A). Sm. Unnd. (49 known) See RB.21/200.370.C. Backs 3 and 4 seen ... W62-330
And in our updated volume even more has been discovered. That entry therefore reads :
- CHINESE TRANSPORT (A). Sm. Unnd. (41 known) Backs 2, 3 and 4. Several printings ... W675-472
1. Series of 33, issued in China. All known in back 4, some in backs 2 and 3
2. 8 additional subjects. Only known in back 3.