State Express 555

From about the age of seven or eight until, I dunno, nine or ten I recall carrying this pack of State Express 555 cigarettes around. Actually it wasn’t a cardboard packet but a tin. And rather than containing cigarettes it held Bubblegum cards…usually ones I was trying to swap for gaps in my collections.

I’ve been trying to decypher the crest of arms but the print is too small. Isn’t SNCF the French national railway?

As this tin had once belonged to my Grandfather who died before I was born for a moment I thought it might be worth a few quid only to have my hopes dashed after a look at eBay where similar items are selling for £2.99!!