Name/Title
United Nations Cigarette DisplayEntry/Object ID
2011.041.004Description
United Nations cigarette sales display. A "punchboard" where people pay 2 cents for an opportunity to win cigarettes. A box structure of 20 blue and white squares is mounted on a hard card backing. Each of the 20 squares has 50 holes in it. Directly beneath each hole is a silvery backing. You punch through the silvery stuff and somehow (apparently the actual means of notification varied) you are informed of what you won (if anything). A schedule to the left of the board indicates when packs of cigarettes are achieved, e.g., "Numbers 10, 20, 30 each receive 3 Pkgs. (60) cigarettes." The board on which the box is mounted features portraits of national icons and the words "United Nations - America Britain China Dutch." This reference to the "ABCD" powers dates this to early 1942, as ABCD was quickly replaced with ABDA. The national icons are Uncle Sam, John Bull, Chang Kai Shek and random Dutch burgher with an orange sash so you know he's Dutch.Update Date
March 18, 2024