During the early 20th century, American tobacco
companies produced a wealth of Tobacco Premiums that were included free with
tobacco products. Around 1910 there was about a four year “window” when the
focus of the material was on American
Colleges and
Universities.
The Richmond Straight tobacco company in
Richmond, Virginia, (now Philip Morris) produced a series of 50 known printed
silks in a series that contained the banner, seal, mascot (or appropriate
symbol), yell and song.
The Murad Company issued a series of cards and
another series printed on silk that showed various sports played at these
universities. The large cards included a series of 25 colleges and universities
that were listed on the reverse side and as indicated were available in 1911.
The company also produced a series of 150 small cards.
Seals of the schools were embossed and printed
on leather, which are referred to as tobacco leathers, while the Egyptienne Co.
issued an exquisitely woven silk series that included the school seal and name/
Twelfth Night Cigarettes produced another series of woven in silk that quality
of which has been compared to Stephen Graphs, the 19th century English sporting
silks.
In addition colleges and universities were included in several series of tobacco felts. Tobacco memorabilia issued almost 100 years ago is a wonderful reminder of one’s alma mater