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Story: Collecting

Cigarette cards

In the 1920s manufacturers began including cards in cigarette packets sold in New Zealand. The cards became popular with collectors. These cards are from a series on New Zealand rugby players produced around 1928. Zoom in to read their details.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: Eph-A-PICTURE CARDS-Wiills-Footballers-selection

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Richard Wolfe, Collecting – 20th-century collecting, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/37320/cigarette-cards (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Richard Wolfe, published 23 February 2012.

Comments

Alister Hyde
18 May 2025
In 1957 I started collecting Cigarette packets as a collection. I ended up selling my collection in 2016 with a total of 11, 582 different packets. Most were empty and some were full. I collected from many countries around the world. I would send parcels of up to what they could send back and wrote down how many I sent and the date and amount. I also had ash trays, and cigar containers, but they were not included only another addition to my collection. I have in front of me a full packet of 10 Players Navy Cut, Cork Tips that still have the original cigarettes inside the pack.