MORRIS’S CIGARETTE CARDS

In the late C19, the first series of collectable themed cards were devised in America to encourage trade. The idea caught on, and these early examples of product placement gradually spread. Sportsmen (Cricketers), Nature, Actors, Military and Important People, were among the topics. By the turn of the century, British companies had taken up the challenge.

In 1924, Sundials became a novelty theme. The Phillip Morris Tobacco Company produced a set of 25 cards with the name Measurement of Time, the subject of this post. In the same year an astonishing set of 50 cards Ancient Sundials was produced by Fry’s (Chocolate) – see HERE. In 1928 a set of 25 cards Old Sundials by W.D. & H.O. Wills returned to the tobacco theme – see HERE

Besides covering a large number of dials from all parts of Britain, the obverse of the cards had a sundial-and-product motto or a pithy ditty. The collectors’ pages below show the front and the backs separately. Please note that you will have to read the text sides in reverse order to match the description to the correct dial.

Note: the 2 header images compensate for the 2 very poor photos (10, 11) that caught some glare.

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NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY: Explore the Cigarette Card Collection HERE

The British Sundial Society (BSS) has recently (2025) featured an excellent 5-page article by Martin Jenkins in the quarterly BSS Bulletin Vol. 37(iv) December 2025. It contains fascinating analyses of the dials including accuracy. A joy to read for any serious diallist!

GSS Category: Sundial cards; Sundial Art; Sundials in Commerce; Sundial picture sets; Composed mottos; Sundials in advertising.