Smoking may now be considered as socially unacceptable but during it's golden decades of the 20th Century the industry, like any other, was responsible for generating a plethora of items to advertise and increase the use of their products and entice new users. This is the case with this item. We believe as a special promotion by Wills, tokens were issued with each packet, collected by the users and then exchanged for the pack of cards. Considering it's great age this item has survived well. The box is intact and remains strong although there is rubbing along some edges, some creasing and one small flap is missing. The red and yellow colour of the box is unfaded but due to decades of use the surface has taken on a grubby appearance which adds to that authentic vintage look. Of standard size the pack of cards consists of the full compliment of 52 cards and two jokers. On the reverse of each card in yellow and sepia colours is depicted a beautiful, young girl with her horse and a cigarette in hand. Although the cards are for Wills they were actually made by Waddington's. A great item for a collector of vintage smoking ephemera or advertising items, or for a collector of vintage playing cards or simply as part or of a vintage social history display.

Date: c.1930-1950's
Maker: John Waddington Ltd
Made in Britain

Dimensions (Box): 6cm x 9cm x 2cm