Cigarette Box [State Express Cigarettes]
Maker and role
Ardath Tobacco Company Limited, Manufacturer
Tasman Empire Airways Limited, Commissioned by
Production date
1940-1965
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2004.375
Description
Rectangular metal box painted yellow on the outside and gold on the inside. The lid has the State Express logo which features "State Express" in purple letters surrounded by a decorative gold circle. A crown sits on top of the logo also in gold with the slogan: "Semper Fidelis" in a small gold banner beneath it. Above the logo, a purple banner reads "State Express Cigarettes". Below the logo is the number "555" in purple, a purple banner reading: "210 Piccadilly London, W.1" and in small letters "Made in England". The edges of the lid on the shorter side says "25 State Express 555" in gold. The front of the bottom reads "Ardath Tobacco Co. Ltd. London".
The interior of the lid has the Royal Crest in the top left corner beneath which it says: "By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen, State Express Cigarette Manufacturers Adarth Tobacco Co. Ltd." The central part of the lid says in blue "State Express 555 Cigarettes. Specially packed for Tasman Empire Airways Limited." The TEAL logo of a stylised bird is also in blue. The inside of the box is lined with gold foil paper which says "State Express Cigarettes" on the part that folds up over 20 cigarettes that appear to be cut to a shorter length. At the feet of the cigarettes, under the foil, is a rolled-up piece of paper about 17 mm wide. 13 cigarettes lie in the bottom layer and 7 on the top. The top 7 are taped to the roll of paper. 2 cigarette ends are taped or glued to the left of these 7 parallel to the roll of paper. The cigarettes are white with brown paper 12 mm from one end and a thin band of gold. They are all labelled "Superkings" and are stamped with a crest in blue or light red. At the bottom of the box is stamped "3692".
The interior of the lid has the Royal Crest in the top left corner beneath which it says: "By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen, State Express Cigarette Manufacturers Adarth Tobacco Co. Ltd." The central part of the lid says in blue "State Express 555 Cigarettes. Specially packed for Tasman Empire Airways Limited." The TEAL logo of a stylised bird is also in blue. The inside of the box is lined with gold foil paper which says "State Express Cigarettes" on the part that folds up over 20 cigarettes that appear to be cut to a shorter length. At the feet of the cigarettes, under the foil, is a rolled-up piece of paper about 17 mm wide. 13 cigarettes lie in the bottom layer and 7 on the top. The top 7 are taped to the roll of paper. 2 cigarette ends are taped or glued to the left of these 7 parallel to the roll of paper. The cigarettes are white with brown paper 12 mm from one end and a thin band of gold. They are all labelled "Superkings" and are stamped with a crest in blue or light red. At the bottom of the box is stamped "3692".
Marks
State Express Cigarettes Printed
STATE EXPRESS CIGARETTES / STATE EXPRESS/ 555/ 210 PICCADILLY LONDON. W.1. / MADE IN ENGLAND Maker's Mark
25 STATE EXPRESS 555 / ARDATH TOBACCO CO. LTD. LONDON / 25 STATE EXPRESS 555 Maker's Mark
STATE EXPRESS CIGARETTES / STATE EXPRESS/ 555/ 210 PICCADILLY LONDON. W.1. / MADE IN ENGLAND Maker's Mark
25 STATE EXPRESS 555 / ARDATH TOBACCO CO. LTD. LONDON / 25 STATE EXPRESS 555 Maker's Mark
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Ardath Tobacco Company Limited et al. 1940-1965. Cigarette Box [State Express Cigarettes], 2004.375. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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