Description:
This is a classic Indian cigarette pack. Citizen Filter Kings, produced during a period when the Indian tobacco industry sought to expand exports to the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries.
The front side shows a dark blue background with horizontal lines and a golden coat of arms in the center, in which a red letter is embedded. C – Citizen logo.
The packaging capacity indicated above the emblem 20 cigarettes, and below is the inscription Made in India. On the back side - additional mark Sole importer for USSR V/O Promtorg, certifying that it is an export permit intended for the Soviet Union market.
The design is clearly oriented towards the Western style – minimal, with heraldic elements, which was typical of the visual language of Indian export goods at the end of the 20th century.
Value assessment:
– Collectible value: higher than average. Export packs of Indian cigarettes marked USSR import inscription, are considered very interesting artifacts of the transitional period between Asian and Soviet trade history.
– Condition assessment: very good. The package is unopened, the cellophane is original, the graphics are intact, the corners have minimal wear.
– Historical data and popularity: Citizen was one of the lesser-known but actively exported Indian brands. During the Soviet period, these packages appeared in Beryozka stores and foreign goods departments.
