Last chance to snap up rare cigarette cards in Somerset

The closing date to bid for rare cigarette cards being auctioned by a West memorabilia firm is fast approaching.

The London Cigarette Card Company, which despite its name is based in Somerton, has 430 lots up for auction.

The birth of cigarette cards dates back the 1890s when manufacturers used to wrap cigarettes in paper and place a protective piece of card inside.

Owing to the consumer audience being largely male, the cards would often depict beautiful women or sportsmen.
The star lot is a collection of 50 cricketers produced in 1896 – they are the third-oldest cigarette cards ever printed. Other lots include actresses of 1900s London, a 1913 lot entitled 'Battlefields of Great Britain', 1940s Screen Lovers, Footballers and Clubs, Marilyn Monroe and Dan Dare.