“The Acadia” Cigarette Card (The Blue Riband of the Atlantic Series)
Pictured are the front and back of a ship-themed cigarette card produced by Ogden's Tobacco Company, from the “The Blue Riband of the Atlantic” series. This card was issued in the United Kingdom in 1929. The typographic and illustrative information conveyed by cigarette cards became an important aspect of culture and identity in the late 19th and early 20th century, particularly for youths and lower-class consumers.
In the 1880s, American and British tobacco companies began packaging cigarettes using rolling machines, resulting in a more efficient production process that provided an opportunity for higher sales. To increase demand, “cigarette cards” began being included in cigarette boxes. Cigarette cards quickly became desirable to consumers as easily-obtainable sources of news, information, and entertainment. This campaign was extremely successful, as the cards increased brand loyalty for consumers who were interested in collecting all cards of a certain set. Card sets with themes like ships, famous actors and actresses, and historical events were particularly desirable to youths.
The imagery and information on cigarette cards often reflected national and cultural trends. Through the type on the back of every card, cigarette cards disseminated information to consumers. Collecting cigarette cards was a cheap method of learning and gaining knowledge, aiding in the spread of information to members of the lower class. Collecting cards also became a way to establish a personal identity, as the types of cards a smoker collected would reflect their interests.
The designs of cigarette cards are fairly uniform. As shown with the “Acadia” card, an illustration relating to the theme of the set is prominently displayed on the front with limited heading text. A paragraph on the back of the card offers useful contextual information or fun facts.
