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Erroneous flags from trading cards, etc. (Australia)

Australia (c. 1897!)
Victoria (American Tobacco Company c. 1910)

See also:

Australia

by Zach Harden, 1 Jan 2005

These cigarette packs are from before Australian nationhood. [Others in the series included accurate renditions of flags of USA, Saxony and the Roman States of the time (Pres. Cleveland, Pope Leo XIII, King Albert)]
Mark Sizemore, 31 Dec 2004

Click here for a picture of the cigarette pack. (24KB)

If this was done near the end of President Cleveland's mandate (1897) at which time the other 2 (Leo XIII and King Albert) were also in power, the presence of "Australia" can be explain by the fact that the federation movement had already called 2 conventions so the creation of a united Australia was probably seen as a de facto entity.

As for what kind of flag it is, I think it simply is a "place holder" one. It doesn't look anything like the federation movement flag but rather is a simplified banner of arms. The COA on which it is based seem to be inspired by the New South Wales' one.
Marc Pasquin, 1 Jan 2005

Victoria

by Al Fisher Jr

This image is from trading cards manufactured by the American Tobacco Company circa 1910. I'm not sure if at least one of these (Victoria) existed. Unfortunately, I don't have the proper reference material at home to check it out.
Al Fisher, Jr., 4 Jul 1997

See: Victoria