<![CDATA[Imperial Tobacco Collection

<![CDATA[Imperial Tobacco Collection - Blog]]>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:35:49 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[Players doncella cigars - novelty item- ITC 18436 circa 1959]]>Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:32:49 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/players-doncella-cigars-novelty-itemA cigar tube inserted into a card replica of an old fashioned car.
Measures some 4.5 inches long. In excellent condition for 65 years old.

]]><![CDATA[imperial tobacco centenary]]>Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:21:27 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/imperial-tobacco-centenary

]]><![CDATA[Back in 1933....]]>Sun, 21 Mar 2021 10:20:44 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/back-in-1933Thanks to Sue Matthews getting in touch we have a rare glimpse into one of the advertising methods used to attract smokers to their brands.
This one is a free weekly football competition. (see images below)
In Tobacco magazines for 1933 apparently ITC were not the only company to have this competition but also International Tobacco Ltd with their Summit brand of cigarettes, and also Godfrey Phillips Ltd.
There are pictures of the ITC winners receiving their cheques for £1000, which was a lot of money in those days. We don't know how long these competitions lasted for, but probably only for a few months, as it was costing the tobacco companies more than they anticipated!

]]><![CDATA[a rare sight...a flock of robins!]]>Sat, 06 Jun 2020 12:25:47 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/a-rare-sighta-flock-of-robins

]]><![CDATA[A few recent additions....]]>Wed, 13 May 2020 12:27:14 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/a-few-recent-additionsOgden's Juggler Tobacco tin...circa 1937

State Express tape measure...just 35mm diameter

Wills's Gold Flake cigarettes menu holder...made from pressed tin.. 80mm long

]]><![CDATA[army club cigarettes]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2020 20:44:17 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/army-club-cigarettesArmy Club was a brand of cigarette distributed by Cavanders Ltd of London that was established in 1775.

Advertising campaigns for this brand adopted the themes of nostalgia of wartime camaraderie and male culture.

In the 1920s these cigarettes were sold in elaborate tins made of pressed copper.

Cavanders was a cigarette company originally based in Manchester. The brand disappeared in 1961, as the company was taken over by the Godfrey Philips cigarette company, whose main factory is now in Mumbai.

Above photo, from another collector, showing rare Army Club ashtrays.
Photos below are from my collection.

Royal Doulton bust of The Major - stands some 11inch ( 280mm) high

Empire Ware Water Jug from 1925 - 6 inch (15mm) high

Clothes Brush -Made in England -6 1/2 inch ( 165mm) long

Letter Opener - Brass handle both sides - Inch & millimetre scales on blade -10 inch (250mm) long

Drinks Tray

Cigarette Box - tin with copper effect finish - 12 inch ( 300mm) long x 5 inch (125mm) wide x 2 1/4 inch (65mm) high

]]><![CDATA[how times have changed!]]>Mon, 10 Feb 2020 09:56:27 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/how-times-have-changedSuch was the power of the tobacco industry a 100 years ago and so accepted was smoking that the Prince of Wales, who reigned as King Edward VIII for a short time, is shown smoking a cigarette while being claimed 'Our Prince of Sports' on this small tray measuring approximately 6 inch by 4 inch by 3/4 inch high.

Edward VIII ‘Our Prince of Sports’ R W Coan Aluminium Tray with Feet British Empire Exhibition 1924

This later became Wembley Stadium.

Robert W Coan established his business in the early 1900's in London. Pioneers with the artistic use of Aluminium which was relatively new to England at the time. Coan exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition of 1924 which was a colonial exhibition which ran at Wembley Park from April 23rd 1924 to October 31st 1925. In 1919 The Prince of Wales, Edward VIII became president of the committee organising the event and also had input into the building of Wembley Stadium there in 1923. A new stadium was built at Wembley Park for the Exhibition

This tray was manufactured to be sold at this exhibition.

HRH the Prince Of Wales is captured in Military Uniform on the tray. "OUR PRINCE OF SPORTS"

]]><![CDATA[Just like buses...you wait a long time for 1 and lots come together!]]>Wed, 22 Jan 2020 20:21:38 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/just-like-busesyou-wait-a-long-time-for-1-and-3-come-togetherHaving not seen any new, to me, old ashtrays for a while... then 5 come along within a couple of weeks that I do not have!
Here they are.

Craven A -Bakelite/plastic Circa 1935

Hills SUNRIPE Cigarettes Circa 1920

Copes GOLDEN CLOUD Circa 1920

CRAVEN A c.1935?

Players Always Please c.1950?

]]><![CDATA[Plastiquarian Magazine]]>Fri, 10 Jan 2020 21:42:43 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/plastiquarian-magazineHad a few of my ashtrays mentioned in an article in the Plastiquarian Magazine, and made the front cover, below....a bit like making the front cover of Vogue!

Also within a couple of days of getting the magazine found another 'For your throat's sake smoke CRAVEN A ' ashtray. One I had not seen before and much larger in real life than expected by the photo when I bought it. Measures just over 7 inch (185mm) long each side. See photo below front cover.

]]><![CDATA[may the force be with you!]]>Wed, 13 Feb 2019 22:25:48 GMThttps://www.imperialtobaccocollection.co.uk/blog/may-the-force-be-with-youA small collection of advertising material showing members of our Armed Forces used to promote the sale of cigarettes and tobacco in days long gone!

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