Factory No. 2, 5th District of New Jersey
These cards were issued by the American Tobacco Company and printed at Factory No. 2, 5th District of New Jersey, one of several known production sites for the T68 “Heroes of History” set. While Factory 2 cards are most commonly found with Royal Bengals Tobacco Cards backs with branding Factory NO. 2nd 5th DIST. NJ.
Collectors often track factory numbers to study printing variations, card coloration differences, and regional distribution patterns. Factory 2 printings are generally high-quality, but subtle differences in ink density and cut can help identify specific production runs within this factory’s output.
A passion for tracing origins
Factory No. 2, 5th District of New Jersey, was the beating heart of Lorillard’s tobacco empire. Our deep dive into this historic location connects collectors to the roots of the T68 “Heroes of History” tobacco card set, uncovering how place, production, and rarity came together.
Historic Factory Site
Explore the origins of 111 First Street, home of Lorillard’s Jersey City plant — once one of the largest tobacco manufacturing facilities in the country.
Factory Stamp Identifier
Learn how to identify the “Factory No. 2, 5th Dist. N.J.” marking on the back of your T68 cards and understand which variations are linked to this site.
Jersey City Distribution Hub
Factory No. 2 benefited from rail, ferry, and port access — making it a powerful distribution point for American Tobacco Company cards nationwide.
Archival Research
Dive into primary sources, advertisements, and factory blueprints detailing Lorillard’s operations from the 1870s to 1919.
Photo Archive Project
We’re building a visual archive of the original Jersey City factory before its 2007 demolition. Contributors welcome — help preserve this historic site through your scans or images.
Royal Bengals Only — Factory Stamped Legacy
Factory No. 2 in Jersey City is directly tied to Royal Bengals backs in the T68 “Heroes of History” series. No other back types are confirmed from this location. While Royal Bengals were also produced at Factory 17 in Virginia, cards bearing the “Factory No. 2, 5th Dist. N.J.” stamp offer a traceable connection to this historic Lorillard plant. Collectors value these cards for their consistent quality and geographic attribution — adding another layer of meaning to each card’s reverse.
Attribution to the Lorillard Co Factory in Jersey City, NJ
In 1910–1911, the P. Lorillard Company was absorbed into the American Tobacco Company’s trust but was permitted to continue operating under its own name. During this period, Lorillard produced Royal Bengals-branded cigars and associated tobacco cards at both its longstanding Jersey City facility (Factory No. 2, 5th Dist. N.J.) and a second location in Virginia (Factory No. 17). This dual-factory production allowed Royal Bengals cards to enter wide circulation while preserving Lorillard’s brand identity within the larger ATC system.
“In Jersey City, the smoke of industry rose with the tide, and Lorillard’s red brick factories stood as monuments to America’s tobacco age.”
— New Jersey Industrial Almanac, early 20th century retrospective
Royal Bengals 2 Branding/Advertising Highlights
- Guaranteed by P. Lorillard Co. as shown on packaging
- Featured bold, high-contrast branding with the iconic tiger’s head
- Produced for five-cent retail, as noted on tax-paid label
- Cards bearing Royal Bengals backs help pinpoint factory origin through tax district stamps
- Reflect Lorillard’s continued brand presence even under ATC consolidation
Royal Bengals Little Cigars – Factory 2, Jersey City, New Jersey (1911)
This original Royal Bengals Little Cigars box, produced at Factory 2 in Jersey City, New Jersey, represents the very packaging in which the Royal Bengals 2 backs of the T68 Heroes of History series were distributed. The bold red-and-blue design with the tiger head emblem was the visual identity of the brand, making it instantly recognizable on store shelves. Surviving examples of these boxes are rare, and their connection to the T68 issue provides direct physical evidence of how the cards reached consumers. This piece links the artwork of the series to its commercial origins, offering a tangible glimpse into the way tobacco advertising and collectible cards intersected in the early 20th century.
Graded Royal Bengals from Factory 2
- Encapsulated by PSA and SGC Professionally graded and slabbed examples help document and preserve print quality, condition, and back variation alignment. PSA and SGC do not differentiate Factory 2/ Factory 17 yet!
- Verified Factory Origin The reverse of each card includes the stamp “Factory No. 2, 5th Dist. N.J.” — tying it directly to the Lorillard facility on First Street in Jersey City.
- Set Building Milestones These cards not only represent key figures in American history, but also serve as essential pieces in building a complete Factory No. 2 Royal Bengals subset.
- Dual Factory Print Legacy Royal Bengals are the only T68 back known to be printed at more than one factory — both Factory No. 2 in New Jersey and Factory No. 17 in Virginia — making Factory-stamped examples essential for collectors tracking print location differences and potential production sequences.
“Factory No. 2 backs changed how I collect T68s. Once I understood the Lorillard connection, the cards became more than just history — they became geography.
Derick Sikes
T68 Historian & Collector