1915 GODFREY PHILLIPS REGIMENTAL COLOURS AND CRESTS
B.D.V. CIGARETTE LARGE REGIMENTAL COLOURED SILKS

The large set includes: The Prince of Wales Royal Lancers, Coldstream Guards, Princess Royal's Dragoon Guards, South Staffordshire (30th & 80th), & 20th Hussars

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These five large Military Silks are from the Regimental Colours and Crests of 1915 by Godfrey Phillips. These large ones are commonly know as Postcard sized among collectors and are more sought after than the small ones. They came on large cigarette boxes of 100!!, as opposed to smaller packs of 20 or 25. The five large, or "postcard", military silks below all have B.D.V. in blue imprinted in the lower right and a series number in blue in the lower left. There is a small additional collection which is included and has an example of the normal size B.D.V. silk, two examples of the later Kensitas issue, a Godfrey Phillips (G.P.) Territorial Badge, and some unmarked flag issues.

Measures ≈ 165mm wide x 120mm high overall
roughly 6½" wide x 4¾" tall

Measures ≈ 165mm wide x 120mm high overall
roughly 6½" wide x 4¾" tall

Measures ≈ 165mm wide x 120mm high overall
roughly 6½" wide x 4¾" tall

Measures ≈ 165mm wide x 120mm high overall
roughly 6½" wide x 4¾" tall

Measures ≈ 165mm wide x 120mm high overall
roughly 6½" wide x 4¾" tall

63mm x 68mm

48mm x 68mm

54mm x 78mm

54mm x 78mm

48mm x 68mm

48mm x 68mm

48mm x 62mm card backed

The Twelve Country Flags below each measure 53mm wide x 63mm tall
or roughly 2" wide x 2½" tall

"What is a Cigarette Silk?" It is a small piece of Printed (or woven) Satin (Almost never Silk) given away free inside Yesteryear's cigarette packets in the same manner as cigarette cards. Sometimes they came on a backing card or in a paper packet and more often than not with nothing at all. With the passing of years they have become increasingly collectable and valuable. There were silk issues in the USA from the late Victorian period and the UK's own Godfrey Phillips had issued over 20 different series between 1910 and the outbreak of war.

Although there were many different subject matters with the Outbreak of WW1, the Military Badges and Regimental Colours, Uniforms, Medals, Regimental Crests, Warships and War Heroes became the order of the day, especially for the male smokers. Although during the war there were lots of companies issuing silks, by far the most prolific issuer in the UK was Godfrey Phillips. They issued more silks than all the other UK makers combined. Their B.D.V. Brand was very popular at the time. They also issued as many unbranded or anonymous silks in their other brands of tobacco and Cigarettes and many silks were issued by other tobacco companies after they amalgamated with Phillips. After WW1 there were less issues and by 1922 hardly any in the UK. There was a brief resurgence in the 30's mostly by Wix/Kensitas and Muratti but, apart from the odd trade issue, that was the end of silks. A Final Note: There are some EBAY listings of Phillips Silks as B.D.V., even some Godfrey Phillips Territorial Badges listed as B.D.V., when they clearly have G.P. stamped on them. If it doesn't say B.D.V Cigarettes in blue or brown text on the silk it is not B.D.V. All silks issued with B.D.V cigarettes are clearly marked as such and ones listed as B.D.V. without this imprint should be avoided.

 Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd.

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