Issued as premiums redeemable for use of Helmar"s Turkish Trophy cigarettes the S81 "Silk" premiums along with the T3/T9 Turkey Red cabinets and the L1 leathers all utilize the same designs (where the subjects are shared) and were all part of the same promotion. Considered by many to be the three most beautiful high-quality tobacco issues the hobby has ever seen the T3/T9 S81 and L-1 issues are still extremely sought-after today. Collectors could redeem 25 Helmar cigarette coupons for one silk.The first five silks of the 30-subject complete S81 set are the only ones unrelated to baseball each featuring the military subjects featured in the L4 Leather series discussed elsewhere in this auction (Buffalo Bill Cody Napoleon Bonaparte George Washington Ulysses S Grant and Robert E Lee). With the exception of the Christy Mathewson S81 silks are extremely rare today with no more than a few hundred examples thought to exist.Presented here are two extraordinarily rare and beautiful "military" examples of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. Extremely well-preserved both are as colorful as the day they were issued in apparent VG/EX condition. The Grant silk exhibits the typical fraying at the top and bottom and contains what appears to be a stain or discoloration at the right border near Grant"s horse. The Lee is equally spectacular not quite as clean as the Grant but just as colorful with much less fraying at the top and bottom.Two very rare and desirable collectibles closely related to the T3 and T9 issues featured so prominently in this auction.