Michele This intriguing set of cards continues to fascinate collectors, but there are several things they may not realise which would enhance their appreciation of it all the more.
The first fact is that if you look at the cards you will find that there is no set title anywhere on them. They were only called "Borough Arms" by early researchers, who did their best to make the myriad of untitled sets easily recognisable to collectors. Even on its first appearance, in our Wills Reference Book part II, as W/19, the description started by, very honestly, saying "This series comprises City, University, Town and Borough Arms; it is perhaps best known under the title "Borough Arms" although "Civic and University Arms" might be a more accurate description."
They are right, of course, for within the first series of fifty cards just nine were proper "Borough Arms". These are No.8, Newport - No. 11, Cheltenham - No.15, Ipswich - No.16, Kensington - No.19, Bournemouth - No.21, Derby - No.36, Leith - No.48, Ryde - and - No.49, Cardiff.
The original listings, in that book, and others, has been altered here, but purely to make it easier for everyone to understand. However if you click the bold "Group" title by every card you will be sent off to a page on which those original listings appear in full.
All of the cards were printed by Mardon, Son & Hall. However, for some reason, they only recorded the date of the very first version to be issued, which was June 1904. The dates of the other cards will probably never be known, unless someone spots something in the heraldry, and knows exactly when that change officially occurred.
Let`s start with a list of all the groups:
Group 1 -
Cards have no numbers
Backs in blue-grey, with modified Star and Circle ornamental design, which allows for the insertion of an Imperial Tobacco Co. clause in a box at the base.
Note there is no "Ld." after the Wills` name in the ornamental circle.
Group 2 -
cards are numbered, on the fronts, in small circles
The pictures on the cards of this group appear to be identical to those of group 1, apart from the addition of the circled number on the front, from 1 to 50.
However, if you compare them to the group 1 cards some have been redrawn, which makes them a re-issue rather than a re-print.
Group 3 - numbered, but on backs, and with descriptive text on backs too.
Again, the same subjects as the above two groups, and numbered 1-50, but the numbers have been moved from the fronts to the backs, and the numbering system is entirely different to the group 2 cards.
The backs are also descriptive, with text about the Borough Arms which appear on the front
Group 4 - cards numbered 51-100, and "Second Series" to top.
These follow on from the cards above, with a descriptive, numbered back, but the fronts are all entirely new subjects.
Note that the title link above goes to a newsletter, not a Card of the Day, so you will need to scroll down to Thursday the 24th of August.
Group 5 - entirely new subjects, numbered 101-150.
- Numbered set of 50, 101-150, numbered on the backs, and entirely new subjects on the fronts. Fronts printed in full colour, no frame lines, with "Wills`s Cigarettes" across fronts of cards. Backs in grey, with descriptive texts, plus an I.T.C. clause and an album offer down the sides of the reverse, both being printed in red. Marked "3rd Series"
Group 6 - recorded as a variant, not having the album offer
This was first recorded in the Wills Reference Book part IV as being a "Numbered set of 50, 101-150, numbered on the backs, same subjects on the fronts as in Group 5. Fronts printed in full colour, no frame lines, with "Wills`s Cigarettes" across fronts of cards. Backs in grey, with descriptive texts but intriguingly without any album offer. Marked "3rd Series".
However it does not appear in the World Tobacco Issues Index.
Now according to Wills specialist Mr. Andrew Walters, they are in the updated Wills reference book, but described as "proof cards". He feels it is more likely, though, that they are printing errors, with the red album clause simply not printing - and here is one of his cards where you can see, on close examination, that there are very faint traces of red words, top left. If those were to fade any more, they could easily be overlooked by a cataloguer, and he thinks that is what happened.
Group 7 - cards numbered 101-150, and "Third Series" to top.
These follow on from the second series, with a descriptive, numbered back, but the fronts are all entirely new subjects.
Backs in grey, with descriptive texts and an album offer, which is also printed in grey.
Group 8 - same pictures, and style, as Group 3 - being numbered 1-50 on the backs, fronts printed in full colour, no frame lines, with "Wills`s Cigarettes" across fronts of cards. Backs with descriptive text, and album offer, all printed in grey. The only real difference here is that the cards say "Second Edition".
Group 9 - same pictures, and style, as Group 4 - being numbered 51-100 on the backs, fronts printed in full colour, no frame lines, with "Wills`s Cigarettes" across fronts of cards. Backs with descriptive text, printed in grey. The only real difference here is that the cards say "Second Edition".Group 7 - Numbered, from 1-50, and with descriptive text, but with "2nd Edition" printed instead of "Second Series"
To view a card from this group, click on - https://csgb.co.uk/cardoftheday/2022-09-06
Group 10 - same pictures, and style, as Group 5 - being numbered 101-150 on the backs, fronts printed in full colour, no frame lines, with "Wills`s Cigarettes" across fronts of cards. Backs with descriptive text, printed in grey. The only real difference here is that the cards say "Second Edition".
Group 11 -
cards numbered 151-200, and "Fourth Series" to the top
These fifty pictures are unique to this set.
Numbers follow on from the cards above.
Now the listing in our original World Tobacco Issues Index, under W62-69, is a bit more confusing, at least to me. The header tells us that the title is adopted, that the cards are small size, and there is a link to W/19. The listing is :
1. First 50 subjects.
A. Scroll back. Front (a) unnumbered (b) numbered
B. Descriptive back with (a) plain numeral (b) numeral and "Second Edition"2. Second 50 subjects. Nd. 51-100. Back
(A) "Second Series"
(B) "Second Edition"3. Third 50 subjects. Nd. 101-150.
A) Back "Third Series". Album clause in (a) grey (b) red
B) Back "Second Edition"4. Fourth Series. Nd. 151-200
Our updated World Tobacco Issues Index has a new code, W675-102, but the text remains the same as immediately above.