Founded in London in 1896, the Ardath Tobacco Company quickly established itself as a distinctive presence in Britain’s cigarette trade. Its flagship brand, State Express 555, became internationally renowned, exported across the globe and synonymous with quality. By 1926, Ardath’s overseas rights were absorbed into the British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco empires, yet the company retained its identity in Britain, continuing to operate under the Ardath name.

Beyond cigarettes, Ardath made a lasting cultural contribution through its cigarette card series, which became prized collectibles. These cards captured the spirit of the age, from film stars to sporting heroes, and remain treasured by collectors today. Among the most evocative were Ardath’s football issues, which documented the game during its formative decades.
In 1936, Ardath released Series F: Southern Football Teams, a remarkable set of 110 photographic cards. Unlike earlier portrait series, this issue depicted entire squads, offering group shots of Southern League and amateur clubs. Teams such as Coulsdon F.C., Carshalton Amateur F.C., Croydon Argyle F.C., and Elmer Deane Sports F.C. were immortalized in crisp sepia images. The set is notable for its breadth, including works teams and local clubs that otherwise left little photographic record. For historians, Series F provides a rare glimpse into the grassroots fabric of English football in the interwar years.