Out of all these cards, I went for the tinker. But what, you may ask, is a tinker? Well, originally it was someone who travelled around mending household utensils, using tin, primarily, but also other metals, and it seems to have been associated with travelling folk, as a way to make some pin money. We do not know when the name "tinker" was associated with mischievous children, but the trade would never have been something done by children, the working of the metal, and the ferocity of the heat, to say nothing of the skill involved to mend the items and know which metal to use.
This set was first described in our original Cartophilic Reference Book No.3, devoted to the issues of W.D. & H.O. Wills (or RB.3), published in 1942, as :
- 78. "MERRIE ENGLAND" STUDIES .Size 69 x 42 m/m. Unnumbered. Fronts printed from line blocks, in colour, after original drawings by John Hassall, R.I. There are TWO series, both General Overseas issues, between 1905-15.
A. MALE studies (titled "Merrie England" Studies). Series of 40. Fronts per Fig. 49. Backs in green, no descriptive text. Similar series issued by Westminster.
- Ye Angler
- Ye Armourer
- Ye Ballad Singer
- Ye Blacksmith
- Ye Carter
- Ye Cellarman
- Ye Cleric
- Ye Clerke-at-Law
- Ye Colporteur
- Ye Falconer
- Ye Friar
- Ye Gaoler
- Ye Haberdasher
- Ye Headsman
- Ye Highwayman
- Ye Innkeeper
- Ye Jester
- Ye Landlord
- Ye Leech
- Ye Lord of Ye Manor
- Ye Mendicant Pilgrim
- Ye Night Watchman
- Ye Page
- Ye Parish Clerke
- Ye Pedlar
- Ye Piper
- Ye Pirate
- Ye School Master
- Ye Sea Captain
- Ye Spicer
- Ye Squire`s Son
- Ye Steward
- Ye Tailor
- Ye Tinker
- Ye Town Crier
- Ye Traveller
- Ye Troubadour
- Ye Turnkey
- Ye Verderer
- Ye Weaver
B.FEMALE Studies (untitled). Fronts per Fig.50. Plain backs (anonymous issue). 30 subjects have been seen ;-
1. "Birch Brooms"
2. "Burgundies"
3. "Cockles & Mussels"
4. "Feather Whisks"
5. "Fresh Pastry"
6. "Gingerbread"
7. "Green Walnuts"
8. "Hot Chestnuts"
9. "Live Carp"
10. "Milko"
11. "Muffins"
12. "My Lady`s Maid"
13. New Laid Eggs"
14. "Posies"
15. "Prime Ducklings"
16. "Shrimps"
17.Spills and Dips"
18. "Spring Water"
19. "Sweet Lavender"
20. "Sweet Oranges"
21. "Sweet Violets"
22. "Toys"
23. "Wi` Rabbit"
24. "Ye Housewife"
25. "Ye Novice"
26. "Ye Nurse"
27. "Ye Pedlar"
28. "Ye Seamstress"
29. "Ye Sick Nurse"
30. " Ye Spinster"
However we know that the male part of the Wills version of this set was printed in England and issued in Australia in February 1915. As for the females, we know nothing, which means it was printed in Australia and the date of issue was not recorded.
In our original World Tobacco Issues Index, the following is listed under section 3 of the Wills entry, for "Australian Issues" -
- "MERRIE ENGLAND" STUDIES .Sm. 69 x 41. Unnd. (40). Wills` "Three Castles" back, See W/79.A ... W62-231
This is repeated in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, save a new card code of W675-360
However both versions of the World Tobacco Issues Index only show a set of forty cards, and that is only the male studies. And if you look at the entry for the Westminster version, under W42-32, that is also only the males, for it reads : "MERRIE ENGLAND" STUDIES .Sm. 70 x 41. Unnd. (40). See W/79.A".
There is something else curious too, for the Westminster version of our set of male studies was issued first, in 1914 - and the backs of those cards are very similar to the Wills ones, with one exception, for the closing statement reads "The pictures illustrate Old English Costumes and occupations and have been copyrighted by Westminster Tobacco Co, Ltd. Cape Town & London" - whilst our cards say "The pictures illustrate Old English Costumes and occupations and are now being presented to smokers of W.D. & H.O. Wills`s celebrated "Three Castles" Cigarettes"
As for the cards showing the females, we have to adjourn right to the back of the original World Tobacco Issues Index to find those, listed under section three of the Anonymous issues, because of their plain backs. Their entry reads : "MERRIE ENGLAND" STUDIES .(A). Sm. 68 x 41. Female studies, inscribed Hassall. Unnd. (30). See W/79.B. Issued in S. Africa, through B.A.T. ... ZJ3-51." This entry is again repeated in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, but with the new card code of ZJ03-495.
Moreover, with that South African connection, it definitely seems that they were follow ups to the Westminster issue, not to the Wills.
As for our artist, John Hassall, he was born in Walmer, Kent on the 21st of May, 1868. His father had been a Naval man, and had served in the Crimea, but was paralysed in an accident and died aged just thirty eight. John Hassall`s first published drawing was in the Graphic newspaper in 1890, and only then, aged twenty-two, did he study art, in Europe. In 1895 he started working for David Allen & Sons, the publisher, and it was during this time that he painted what is probably his most famous work, "The Jolly Fisherman", used as a railway poster, and better known with the title of that, which was "Skegness is So Bracing.." It can be found as card 20 of F. & J. Smith`s "Holiday Resorts". The "R.I." which follows his name is for The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, who admitted him to their ranks in 1901 - but he was also a member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, and the London Sketch Club, which elected him President in 1903. He was married twice, and had two children, and he died on the 8th of March, 1948, aged seventy-nine.