The 1922 Lambert & Butler “Motor Cars” Series 1 is a vintage set of cigarette cards issued by the British tobacco company Lambert & Butler. Collector resources often date this initial series to 1922 (with green backs), with some variation in cataloging potentially placing it in late 1922 or early 1923. It consists of 25 cards, each approximately 35 mm by 67 mm (1-3/8 inches by 2-5/8 inches), featuring color images of contemporary automobiles on the front and descriptive text on green backs detailing the model’s specifications, performance, and history.
The set showcases a diverse array of early 20th-century vehicles from British, American, and European manufacturers. This series captures the evolving motoring landscape of the era, highlighting luxury, sports, and everyday models beyond the ubiquitous Ford Model T, and was followed by a second series of 25 cards (numbered 26-50) in 1923, with similar design elements. As collectibles, these cards remain popular among enthusiasts of automotive history and tobacco ephemera, often appearing in auctions and sales in varying conditions. The “Motor Cars” first series has a single card directly related to auto racing.
#20 Hispano-Suiza
#20 Hispano-Suiza