A Note from Duckie:
This was the very first article-style piece I wrote back in 2023. My mentor, Randy Neil, sadly passed away in March of 2024. This article was one he planned on publishing in the magazine he edited.
Randy was — and still is, somewhere — one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met. He was the first person outside my family to support my dream of writing. Today, I share this post in his honor.
This one’s for you, my friend. Until I see you again.
Image of Randy and Duckie, from the author’s collection.
Coffee, Conversation, and Cigarette Smoke
I was having coffee with a friend and philatelic mentor one afternoon. He mentioned something fascinating. Back in the day, a lot of stamp collectors smoked.
If you were around philatelists, you were most likely going to be around tobacco smoke.”
It was just the way it was. Many collectors enjoyed a nicotine buzz after work while sorting their papery treasures.
Naturally, my mind wandered. Tobacciana happens to be another hobby of mine (among many), so I decided to see where it intersected with philately. And I discovered it was everywhere.
Unsplash image of stamps on a notebook. Not tobacco related. But stamp-collecting related.
We do what we can with what we have.
Cigarette Cards and Stamps: A Colorful History
Starting in 1881, W. Duke, Sons & Co. began manufacturing cigarettes and joined the trend of including cigarette cards in their packs.
By 1889, the N85 series featured 50 cards per set. Each card was decorated with colorful lithographs. These lithographs depicted scenes of sending, delivering, and receiving mail.
What made this set truly special? Each card had a genuine, canceled foreign postage stamp affixed to its front.
I can’t help but imagine how many of these cards circulated before being lost to time.
While not tremendously valuable, the set is a charming addition to any album.”
A full set of 50 sold at auction in 2019 for $200. Which is quite the steal! Individual cards in good condition can fetch $25–$50 online. Such a clever way to show stamps, and a neat crossover for collectors of tobacciana.
Unsplash image of a Duke’s Tobacco N85 non-sports card.
Anti-Smoking Campaign Stamps
As tobacco-related health risks became clear, several countries began issuing stamps promoting anti-smoking messages.
- 1979 Red Cross Semi-Postal Stamp: It depicted a green bottle, a skull smoking a cigarette, and a hypodermic needle. These were part of a campaign against drugs, smoking, and alcohol.
- April 7, 1980 – World Health Day: Theme: “Smoking or Health? The choice is yours.” Twenty-four countries participated, issuing anti-smoking stamps, with many more arriving in the years to follow.
Unsplash image of a postage stamp from World Health Day, April 7, 1980
Controversy: The Audrey Hepburn Stamp
Decades later, tobacco would spark controversy in philately. The famous example: Berlin’s 2001 Audrey Hepburn stamp.
The original photo showed Hepburn holding sunglasses in her mouth. German Post altered it to feature her cigarette holder instead — without permission from her family.
Her son, Sean Ferrer, opposed tobacco and alcohol use, and refused copyright approval. Most of the first print run of ten sheets was destroyed. Three sheets survived: one given to Ferrer, one archived, and one displayed in a museum.
Yet a few single stamps surfaced between 2004–2009, selling at auction for $87,200 to $341,000. Remarkably, one was even found in kiloware!
That lucky collector! Sooooo, that kiloware you just picked up on eBay might just contain one.”
Unsplash image of rare Audrey Hepburn stamps. Not from the author’s collection. Unfortunately. XD
Tobacciana as a Philatelic Theme
For collectors interested in tobacciana, the possibilities are endless:
- Early cigarette cards with stamps
- Revenue stamps related to tobacco
- Anti-smoking campaign stamps
The beauty of stamp collecting is its flexibility. You can merge passions and create themed albums. Explore intersections of history, art, and culture. All of this can be done within a single collection.
Sometimes, the most memorable collections come from the place where hobbies intersect.
Unsplash image of stamps in a collector’s book.
Some Tips for Tobacciana Collectors:
- Look for cigarette cards from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Check auction sites and kiloware lots for rare stamps.
- Include anti-smoking campaign stamps for a unique twist.
- Display your collection thematically to combine art, history, and personal interests to create a collection unique to your own personality.
Quack Pack Tabac 