Stall at the British Empire Exhibition at Auberge d'Italie with a an array of cigarette products on display. The display also shows the date of appointment given by the Prince of Wales to V. Marich and Co. in 1862.

Back of photo of stall at the British Empire Exhibition at Auberge d'Italie with a an array of cigarette products on display.

Stall at the British Empire Exhibition at Auberge d'Italie with a an array of cigarette products on display.

Testimonial letter from Rear Admiral John Luce, CB (4th February 1870 - 22nd September 1932).

Admiral Luce was a senior officer in the Royal Navy during and after the First World War. He played a significant role in the early development of the British Naval aviation. In 1921, Luce was appoined Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard.

In 1888, Messrs V. Marich & Co. received another appointment by His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh. Messrs V. Marich & Co. were appointed as cigar and tobacco merchants to His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh. In the 1890s, besides supplying Navy and Army messes and clubs, V. Marich & Co. was by then already exporting cigars and tobacco to the UK and to the East, having agents established in the UK, Channels Islands and Bermuda.

This follows the first appointment by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales in 1862, where permission to affix "By appointment to His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales" over the door of their establishment was granted.