c.1900
General Interest
Murai Bros. & Co.
Japan
? cards (1? football)
Murai Kichibe (1864–1926) was the president of Japan's leading tobacco company prior to the government tobacco monopoly being established in 1904. Born into a tobacco merchant household in Kyoto, Murai recruited people who foresaw the industry's potential and established the Murai Bros & Co. He then studied American technology and began cigarette manufacturing operations. His company launched "SUN-RISE" (1891) and "HERO" (1894) cigarettes. The original Godfrey Phillips Ltd. version of this card can be seen here - Godfrey Phillips Ltd. - (P50-3) General Interest. It is possible that West Bromwich Albion's W.J. Bassett features in this collection too. I've added an image of a HERO packet as shown on the back of the card.
W.C. Athersmith (Aston Villa)
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