What are Cigarette Cards?

Never heard of cigarette cards before? Neither had I until I started working with them. These cards used to be packaged with cigarettes, and would be collected to form sets on a wide variety of topics. Some of these topics remain popular today, such as cars, stars, planes and trains. But there are some series which are simply intriguing historically or for other reasons. I've scanned a few so that you can get a 'taste' of what cigarette cards include.

more card examples

back to Cigarette Cards

The World of Tomorrow A Series of 50 6 ATOMIC DISINTEGRATOR Attempts have recently been made to "split the atom." Though these have not so far been very spectacular, nor have had any practical application, their theoretical results have been important. Developments of similar methods might enable us to release the vast stores of energy which are thought to hold the atom together, thus obtaining unlimited supplies of power for our use. Further ad- vances in this work might also enable us to break down the more complicated atoms into the more simple, so converting common elements into those of which we are in need, and overcoming any possible shortage of food supplies, or raw materials for our industries.

The World of Tomorrow 47 SPACE-SUITS For landing on other planets, and for repairing space-ships, explorers beyond the atmosphere would need spacesuits. These would have to be air-tight and carry generous supplies of oxygen, and also, perhaps of food and water. They would need to be strong enough to resist the pressure of the air within and accidental blows from without, for any leakage would be fatal. At the same time they would have to be flexible enough to enable their wearers to walk about and to handle objects. They would be electronically heated, and probably provided with wireless telephones.

The World of Tomorrow 50 WEATHER CONTROL Though at present we cannot even foretell the weather, let alone control it, there is no need ot suppose we shall always be so helpless. The picture shows a possible method of producing rain artificially. Electrified globes at the top of great towers would attract the clouds; failing natural clouds, streams of water pumped to their top would be evaporated on electrically-heated plates to form water vapour. Discharges of powerful electric sparks, like an artificial thunderstorm, would cool the air, condense the clouds, and bring their contents to earth as rain. In the meantime, a series of automatically-controlled motor-sowers might turn up the soil and scatter the seeds.

A Gallery of 1934 A Series of 50 8 ADOLF HITLER At 45 Dictator of Germany. Before the War he was a house painter; to-day he is the autocratic ruler of 66,000,000 people. One of the founders of the German National Socialist Party (Nazis); eleven years ago he was sentanced to imprisonment for his share in a revolt against the Bavarian Government but was released after a few months. Now he has more power and influence over the destinies of the German peoplee than was ever exercised by Wilhelm II. With the death of Hindenburg in 1931 came Hitler's final step to power, for he combined with the office of Chancellor which he already held, that of Leader (Fuhrer) of the German nation.

	The World of Tomorrow A Series of 50 6 ATOMIC DISINTEGRATOR Attempts have recently been made to "split the atom." Though these have not so far been very spectacular, nor have had any practical application, their theoretical results have been important. Developments of similar methods might enable us to release the vast stores of energy which are thought to hold the atom together, thus obtaining unlimited supplies of power for our use. Further ad- vances in this work might also enable us to break down the more complicated atoms into the more simple, so converting common elements into those of which we are in need, and overcoming any possible shortage of food supplies, or raw materials for our industries.
	The World of Tomorrow 47 SPACE-SUITS For landing on other planets, and for repairing space-ships, explorers beyond the atmosphere would need spacesuits. These would have to be air-tight and carry generous supplies of oxygen, and also, perhaps of food and water. They would need to be strong enough to resist the pressure of the air within and accidental blows from without, for any leakage would be fatal. At the same time they would have to be flexible enough to enable their wearers to walk about and to handle objects. They would be electronically heated, and probably provided with wireless telephones.
	The World of Tomorrow 50 WEATHER CONTROL Though at present we cannot even foretell the weather, let alone control it, there is no need ot suppose we shall always be so helpless. The picture shows a possible method of producing rain artificially. Electrified globes at the top of great towers would attract the clouds; failing natural clouds, streams of water pumped to their top would be evaporated on electrically-heated plates to form water vapour. Discharges of powerful electric sparks, like an artificial thunderstorm, would cool the air, condense the clouds, and bring their contents to earth as rain. In the meantime, a series of automatically-controlled motor-sowers might turn up the soil and scatter the seeds.

	A Gallery of 1934 A Series of 50 8 ADOLF HITLER At 45 Dictator of Germany. Before the War he was a house painter; to-day he is the autocratic ruler of 66,000,000 people. One of the founders of the German National Socialist Party (Nazis); eleven years ago he was sentanced to imprisonment for his share in a revolt against the Bavarian Government but was released after a few months. Now he has more power and influence over the destinies of the German peoplee than was ever exercised by Wilhelm II. With the death of Hindenburg in 1931 came Hitler's final step to power, for he combined with the office of Chancellor which he already held, that of Leader (Fuhrer) of the German nation.