---
title: "These Vintage Car Cigarette Card Illustrations Are Wonderful"
description: "Musky tobacco smell not included."
date: "2016-02-22"
modified: "2016-02-22"
authors:
  - name: "The Drive Staff"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/the-drive-staff"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/design/2291/these-vintage-car-cigarette-card-illustrations-are-wonderful"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "History"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Art"
  - "New York"
---

# These Vintage Car Cigarette Card Illustrations Are Wonderful

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-hero-v2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Recently, the [New York Public Library digitized](<https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/>) and released its immense collection of photos. Like the nerds we are, we immediately began digging (scrolling) through for something delicious and automotive. Far from the first page, but still miles from carpal tunnel, we came across these winners: French cigarette cards showcasing some of the most beautiful metal of the Forties and Fifties.

Aren’t familiar with cigarette cards? Then you probably weren’t smoking cigarettes before 1950. Before there were the rigid, rectilinear flip-top packs we have today, cigarettes were sold mostly in paper “soft packs,” easily crushed if left in a pocket. Many came with a stiffening cardboard square; as early as the 1870s, enterprising vendors were commissioning artists to portray movie stars, athletes, wildlife, airplanes and, of course, cars on the ostensibly structural cards. As such, smokers were encouraged to collect full sets of the colorful cards while—simultaneously—upholstering their lungs in tar. It was brilliant marketing and today, the cards can sell for as much as $1 million on eBay.

Or, for free, you could download these technicolor beauties: *Les Autos Modernes*, a wonderful and wonderfully curated series from Mills Cigarettes. The pleasing nicotine scent, unfortunately, did not survive scanning. But the illustrations are perfect.

![A.C. Greyhound](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-ac-greyhound-art.jpg>)
*A.C. Greyhound*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Aston Martin DB4](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-aston-martin-db-4-gt-art.jpg>)
*Aston Martin DB4*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Austin Healey Sprite](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-austin-healy-sprite-art.jpg>)
*Austin Healey Sprite*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Cadillac Fleetwood Sedan](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-cadillac-fleetwood-sedan-art.jpg>)
*Cadillac Fleetwood Sedan*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Chrysler Imperial](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-chrysler-imperial-art.jpg>)
*Chrysler Imperial*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Citroen D.S.19](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-citroen-ds-19-art.jpg>)
*Citroen D.S.19*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Corvair](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-corvair-art.jpg>)
*Corvair*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Corvette](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-corvette-art.jpg>)
*Corvette*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Daimler 2.5 Litre Sports](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-daimler-2-5-litre-sports-art.jpg>)
*Daimler 2.5 Litre Sports*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![De Soto Diplomat](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-de-soto-diplomat-art.jpg>)
*De Soto Diplomat*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Dodge Dart](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-dodge-dart-art.jpg>)
*Dodge Dart*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Fiat 600](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-fiat-600-art.jpg>)
*Fiat 600*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Ford Edsel](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-ford-edsel-art.jpg>)
*Ford Edsel*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Hillman Minx Convertible](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-hillman-minx-convertible-art.jpg>)
*Hillman Minx Convertible*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Humber Super Snipe Saloon](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-humber-super-snipe-saloon-art.jpg>)
*Humber Super Snipe Saloon*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Jaguar XK150](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-jaguar-xk-150-art.jpg>)
*Jaguar XK150*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Lynx](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-lynx-art.jpg>)
*Lynx*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Mercedes-Benz 300SL](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-mercedes-benz-300-sl-art.jpg>)
*Mercedes-Benz 300SL*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Mercury Commuter](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-mercury-commuter-art.jpg>)
*Mercury Commuter*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Renault Dauphine](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-renault-dauphine-art.jpg>)
*Renault Dauphine*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Simca Verdette](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-simca-vedette-58-art.jpg>)
*Simca Verdette*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Singer Gazelle Sport Car](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-singer-gazelle-sport-art.jpg>)
*Singer Gazelle Sport Car*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Studebaker Silver Hawk](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-studebaker-silver-hawk-art.jpg>)
*Studebaker Silver Hawk*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Sunbeam Alpine](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-sunbeam-alpine-art.jpg>)
*Sunbeam Alpine*

*, *George Arents Collection**

![Triumph Herald](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/cigarette-cards-triumph-herald-art.jpg>)
*Triumph Herald*

*, *George Arents Collection**

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