Cigarette Card

Wills’s Cigarettes “Wonders of the Past” Cigarette Card #25 “Stone Elephants at Ming Tombs”

Produced in 1926 by W. D. & H. O. Wills.

Issued by The Imperial Tobacco Company (of Great Britain & Ireland) Ltd.

Text on reverse of card reads:

“Nanking, meaning “southern capital,” had been the ruling city of China in very early days, up to 501 A.D.; and the Ming dynasty adopted it as the capital again in 1368. The tombs of the later Mings are at Peking, whither the dynasty moved in 1403, but the Mausoleum of Hung-wu, the founder, is one of the sights of Nanking, and is approached by an avenue of massive stone figures of beasts and men in facing pairs. The stones on the backs of these elephants are thrown by passers-by who believe that it brings good luck to lodge one there successfully.”