State Express 555

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State Express 555, known as 555 (Three-Fives), is a

The idea for the State Express brand came from the United States in 1893. Sir Albert Levy (1864–1937), a London tobacco merchant and businessman, was visiting the United States. While in Manhattan, Levy was a passenger on the Empire State Express train, which allegedly broke land speed records as locomotive No.999, the "Queen of Speed" sped its way from New York City to Buffalo, New York.

State Express was founded in London on 10 March 1896.^[2] The numerals (a series of triple numbers from 111 to 999) forming the other part of the trademark were registered under UK Registration No. 290529 on 18 February 1907.^[2] All of these numbers were used as different brands, each with a different blend or mix of tobacco: 444 was made with Macedonian leaf, and 777 was made with Turkish tobacco, for example. The numeric ranges for State Express cigarettes were not the only available variants in the market at that time. Other mark names included My Darling and Astorias, available in export catalogues. In addition to the cigarette business, cigars and tobaccos were available in the State Express range. But by far the most successful of these was the Virginia tobacco blend of State Express 555, introduced in 1896. It went on to become Ardath's flagship brand.

The brand was originally owned by Ardath Tobacco Company. The company was created in the late 19th century in London, England, and was originally called Albert Levy & Thomas.^[3]

The Ardath Tobacco Company Limited was originally located at 62 Leadenhall Street in London and called La Casa de Habana (The House of Havana) until 1895, when it changed its name to the present day version.

In the 1920s and 1930s BAT held a dominant position in the Chinese market with State Express 555 playing a key role. Sales of the brand exceeded 5 billion units in 1937. According to Mao Zedong's personal physician, 555 was the Chinese leader’s favorite cigarette. On the day of the Proclamation of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong and Liu Shaoqi reportedly smoked 555 cigarettes.^[5]

Subaru Impreza WRC with 555 visible on boot lid

Jenson Button driving for BAR at the 2005 Chinese Grand Prix with a State Express 555 livery instead of the regular Lucky Strike livery

555 sponsors

Even after State Express 555 withdrew its sponsorship, Subaru continued to use the 555 blue and yellow colour scheme as its WRC livery until its withdrawal, but with the manufacturer's own logos in place of the 555 brand. The State Express 555 livery is now regarded as the brand's standard motorsport livery, Vermont SportsCar, which runs United States rally operations for Subaru, continues to use the State Express livery colours at events.^[7]

When

• In 1979 and 1982, 555 sponsored Badminton.
• In 1980, 555 sponsored 1980 Summer Olympics.
• The
  1984 Challenge Cup
  was named the State Express Challenge Cup due to sponsorship from State Express.
• In 1992, 555 (with
  1992 World Rally Championship season
  .
• In 1996 Star Trek: The Next Generation on Myanmar TV was sponsored by 555.^{[citation needed]}

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