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This listing is for one genuine antique cigarette card from the 1920sMerchant Ships of the World series, issued by W.D. & H.O. Wills, a branch of the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain & Ireland. Each card in the set features a beautifully illustrated merchant vessel from the early 20th century and includes technical and historical information on the reverse.
Only the specific card shown in the image is included. The card is over 100 years old and remains a collectible piece of vintage maritime and advertising history.
🌍 Historical Background
Released in the early 1920sduring the golden age of cigarette card collecting, the Merchant Ships of the World cards showcased major steamships and liners from international shipping lines. These cards were inserted in packs of Wills’s Cigarettes and offered smokers a chance to collect and learn about the most iconic vessels of their time — from transatlantic ocean liners to cargo steamers.
This card reflects a period when maritime trade and passenger travel were central to global commerce, and steamships symbolized modernity, luxury, and engineering might. Collectors of the time often stored them in albums, and the cards were valued for their rich detail and educational appeal.
🎨 Design & Card Features
Issued: Early 1920s
Card Dimensions: Approx. 1⅜" x 2⅝" (3.5 x 6.7 cm)
Front: Full-color artwork of a specific ship with name and Wills’s Cigarettes branding
Back: Printed black text describing the ship’s tonnage, size, service routes, unique features, and historical notes
Orientation: A mix of portrait and landscape layouts depending on the ship depicted
Print Style: High-quality chromolithography with crisp period typography on the reverse
Ships featured in this series came from the UK, Canada, the U.S., France, Italy, and the Netherlands, representing a truly global maritime fleet. Many cards detail advanced designs, such as oil-fueled propulsion or record-breaking Atlantic crossings, highlighting the innovations of early 20th-century shipbuilding.
🎁 Collector Appeal
These antique cards are highly sought after for their:
Authentic maritime artwork and engineering detail
Connection to global steamship history
Use in tobacco advertising and early promotional collectibles
Broad appeal to collectors of ocean liners, nautical memorabilia, and early 20th-century ephemera
🖼️ Display & Gifting Ideas
Ideal for framing, gift-giving, or archival display, these compact and colorful cards make perfect additions to:
Nautical-themed rooms (look great in frames)
Vintage study or library decor
Collector albums and shadowboxes
Gifts for ship enthusiasts, model builders, or history lovers
Antique & Ephemera Collectors
