Vintage Tobacco Packs- Let's see them

[Mozzie22]

Would love to see examples of packs that would have held some of these little gems. If you've got them show them off.

[brass_rat]

Red Cross. I believe the stamp is a couple years off the T215, but I haven't seen any other versions of the packaging.

[canjond]

I'll start with some T206-related cigarette packs:

[canjond]

Some pre-1900 packs:

[canjond]

Some random rare packs:

[BruceinGa]

Wow, what graphics!

[Baseballcrazy62]

Wow. Those are all really awesome!

[jerrys]

creole1.jpg

mecca_box.jpg

rich1888a.jpg

rich50.jpg

s-l16000.jpg

tt1.jpg

mayo650.jpg

fgoldcoinpack55.jpg

This is an image of a Gold Coin pack that most likely contained the N284 card.

An actual pack may not exist.

[Eggoman]

Here's my couple...

[Corporal Lance Boil]

Really great pictures!. A "TTT", too...wonder how many of those exist?

[3-2-count]

Tremendous eye candy in this thread. Here's a couple more.....

[1880nonsports]

I don't get to share these too often so jumping on the opportunity. Not up to the quality/relevance level of others like Jon and Tony but I guess I tried to make up for that with volume. Sorry for some duplication but stuff all together. Most of my packs - a few nestled behind less card relevant stuff so I left them off. Note to the sealed "cat" tobacco pouch from 1800's!!! Lucky strike shelf and below it all still SEALED. If you look closely I do have quite a few card and card era packs. Regret that $$ considerations forced me to long ago sell a few of the rarest card related packs I had. Oh well.

[3-2-count]

Henry, I never grow tired of viewing your incredible collection. Absolutely gorgeous stuff my friend!

Here's another to share. In my opinion the cartons which once held these packs may even be more difficult to locate that the packs themselves.

[1880nonsports]

long ago sold my few cartons other than the Gypsy Queen . That Virginia Brights quite special. It looks late 1910's - early 1920's - any information on it? Could be earlier I suppose but the simplicity leading me there.

[1880nonsports]

I hope to replace a few I've sold - especially the 19th century ones. The Broadleafs, Ramleys (and Ramleh), Lenox and others show up far and few between. Forget the Creole, GQ, TTT's. I've still never been able to procure a Lone Jack pack (had 2 shots - came up empty) - and of course that Drum off the charts.....

I suppose it's a Gypsy Queen on my most wanted list - any of the three variations (?) will do.

[3-2-count]

Hi Henry. I've not been able to Determine the true date on the Virginia Brights carton either.

Here is whats printed on both side panels and the bottom of the carton does have two small ink stamps which read H12. I'm not sure if this helps us any.

[canjond]

Thanks guys. Henry and Tony - unbelievable, amazing stuff. Greg - your TTT always makes me jealous.

There's a few I still need, however all are so hard to find. It seems like I go a year or 2 before I'm able to check one off the list. GQ, Uzit, TTT, Mono and Virginia Extra are all still on the list.

Out of the ones I do have, I think the KBs, Drum, Contentnea, Kotton, Mino and Hindu are the rarest ones. I'm not aware of too many other examples out there. I've also never come across another example of the Punch Cigaros pack. The one I have still has a full, intact tax stamp with a 1912 date.

[ccre]

All these are stunning. Thanks to all for sharing. That Punch pack is fantastic!

[JollyElm]

Speaking of the Punch pack, that is some seriously disturbing imagery on it. What in high heck is that all about??

[canjond]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Speaking of the Punch pack, that is some seriously disturbing imagery on it. What in high heck is that all about??

Punch and Judy is a traditional, popular, and usually violent puppet show featuring Pulcinella (Mr. Punch) and his wife Judy. The performance consists of a sequence of short scenes, each depicting an interaction between two characters, most typically Mr. Punch and one other character who usually falls victim to Punch's club.

Here is the front and back...

[vwtdi]

[NYHighlanderFan]

This is a great post. And this is the perfect place to share this knowledge.

Beware of the counterfeit Gypsy Queen packet. I shared this with a few guys who are on here already. I acquired this packet a few years back. Luckily, I was able to return it to the antique book store who sold it and received a full refund. The seller was from down in the southwest, like AZ or NM. He was unaware of its authenticity. File this one away because it may resurface in another auction down the road!

[1880nonsports]

an iconic brand - likely among the longest lived of all national/international cigar brands. There was usually a devil or policeman involved in the Punch and Judy puppets that were featured on the streets of England I believe. I had a cloth glass and wooden devil puppet from the series my mother brought me in the 1950's. Only the head remains - form your own conclusions. I also have a couple of figural pieces including a go to bed silver matchsafe (also used as a happy ending timer) and a cigar box or two. Their early graphics are eerie and superior. I'll try and post a box top. Have only seen that pack once before - quite nice in that configuration. A beauty.

I sold my TTT to the person WHO SHOULD HAVE IT. 'nuff said

Kieth - OOO - nice to see you posting! Any story to accompany the post?

[Leon]

A few my good friend Jay M. (Oldjudge) sent over to post, from his collection. I think I might recognize one of them.

[1880nonsports]

what does he need the Lone Jack for???

[canjond]

Only one, Leon?

[Joe_G.]

Love this thread, love the 19th century packs. Most of mine would be repeats of what has already been shown. Here are the three variations of SF Hess Creole, all with 1883 tax stamps (meaning they were issued between 1883 and 1893). This date range can be narrowed down a bit as the slide and shell packs didn't gain wide usage until late 1886 into 1887. They are in what I believe to be chronological order, left to right.

[orly57]

From a guy who doesn’t focus on tobacco cards, I am in love with this thread. These packs are just so beautiful. We are often stunned that old cards still exist; it is mind blowing that cigarette packs still exist from over 100 years ago! Did any of you guys ever pull a card from a pack? I noticed that Jon had a Lewis next to an Obak pack, and it made me wonder if he pulled it.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by canjond

Punch and Judy is a traditional, popular, and usually violent puppet show featuring Pulcinella (Mr. Punch) and his wife Judy.

I had no idea the brand was a reference to Punch and Judy. Yowza! Thought they were just being bizarre on their own.

[canjond]

Originally Posted by orly57

From a guy who doesn’t focus on tobacco cards, I am in love with this thread. These packs are just so beautiful. We are often stunned that old cards still exist; it is mind blowing that cigarette packs still exist from over 100 years ago! Did any of you guys ever pull a card from a pack? I noticed that Jon had a Lewis next to an Obak pack, and it made me wonder if he pulled it.

Orlando - I did not pull the card myself, but it came out of that pack (and yes, everything is still together). I originally purchased the pack from Frank Ward I believe. If memory serves me correct, the person who purchased the pack originally didn't realize it was still unopened, and when he or she looked to see if it was full, found the card still tight inside.

[orly57]

It explains the sharp corners and great condition. Also explains the heavy staining. Well, I am in awe your collection. Amazing stuff.

[tedzan]

Nothing new here....except for a little bit of jazzing up with some cards.



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TED Z

T206 Reference
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[oldjudge]

Jon-Those are two different GQ packs
Henry-I collect Lone Jack cards

[sb1]

Originally Posted by Corporal Lance Boil

Really great pictures!. A "TTT", too...wonder how many of those exist?

Three that Jon and I are aware, bound to be others, but no new ones seen in the last decade.

The one I got from Henry and a few other Ramly boxes.

[jerrys]

The birth of card collecting - matching the 19th century tobacco/cigarette brand packs to baseball cards.

http://bcc.anaclubs.org/packs.htm

[Eggoman]

Here's a couple more that may not have been posted yet. The Royal Bengals is a non-sport set, but the packs are full and I like the graphics, too!

[1880nonsports]

and dag nabbit I have never seen that scorecard slide on a Hassan pack - that is QUITE special although surely not unique. It makes some sense as they used base ball in a few of their offerings and advertising. VERY neat - to me anyway as I can't recall any other packs including an interactive component. Anyone else?

[1880nonsports]

them is spectacular.

Jay - OK OK I knew that :-)

[1880nonsports]

Did you write it? Perfect opportunity to post it. I might suggest while it's true that cards were initially produced and put into packs to stimulate sales - what precipitated their inclusion into packs was that there was an increasing outcry at the "scandalous" and suggestive LARGE photographic and chromolithographic advertising pieces that were being displayed in shop windows. Putting their advertising INTO the product was a way of getting around this and therein fulfilled a dual purpose. Now perhaps there's some conjecture involved - but I have read contemporaneous accounts of such righteous indignation.

I have only read part of the article but did notice the Yum Yum tin. I know there was a paper notice referring to base ball cards being included attached on the bottom? Was it the rectangular tin or the pail or perhaps both?

adding: I agree that the four base hits likely came in a similar package to the Kalamazoo as I have 2/3 examples that are similar for different brands. I think packaging WILL be found.
I think it's conceptually a mistake to call the Gold Coin a "pack" as I think it most likely was a paper PACKAGE although I have no concrete evidence. Because of that, a couple redemption offers for the labels, and the graphics are flat - we may never find an actual package. As I write this - I'm thinking that might not even be the appropriate package. I'll get back to you :-)

[tedzan]

Mayo & Bros. Tobacco tins and N300 cards perfect together in 1895


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TED Z

T206 Reference
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[canjond]

Originally Posted by 1880nonsports

and dag nabbit I have never seen that scorecard slide on a Hassan pack - that is QUITE special although surely not unique. It makes some sense as they used base ball in a few of their offerings and advertising. VERY neat - to me anyway as I can't recall any other packs including an interactive component. Anyone else?

Henry-

I believe the Hassan packs that had a T202 triple folder inside were printed with the scorer on the back of the inner slide. I have 2 Hassan packs in my collection, both of which were from a find in 1994 that were unopened and contained T202s (both were subsequently opened before I could purchase them). In both circumstances, the inner slide had a scorer.

- Jon

[1880nonsports]

I would expect that to be the case but never thought it out. Adds to my appreciation for the series. I must keep an eye out now :-)

[jerrys]

Yes Henry, this article was published in Beckett's Vintage Collector last year.

What was scandalous about advertising displays in shop windows? I have not encounter that circumstance in my search. For one of his other incentives Duke would find every social and patriotic event to donate free cigarettes to encourage cigarette smoking.

Yum Yum tin is just a prop from my files - don't need the real thing in this case.

Gold Coin (pack and package are synonyms) - I favor your crystal ball's response that GC packaging WILL be found. My cheap crystal ball does not respond.

Hope you get to finish reading the article soon - good stuff at the end - Teddy stepped in - the bad guy lost!


With your expertise you should write - there are many areas still unexplored. Guess you would agree just uploading pictures without explanation is not as rewarding.

[canjond]

With respect to Yum Yum, as far as I'm aware, only the square tins have been found with the labeling about cards being packaged inside.

[GasHouseGang]

This is the only related item I own. Don't know if it would have ever contained any cards.

[jerrys]

Jon, your GC tin is labeled that cards are inside! You showed that tin some time ago but I didn't see the card reference.

Thanks for the update.

[canjond]

Henry - here's another Hassan w/scorecard. This one had a beautiful (albeit off-centered) T202 pulled out of it in 1994.

[Joe_G.]

Originally Posted by jerrys

The birth of card collecting - matching the 19th century tobacco/cigarette brand packs to baseball cards.

http://bcc.anaclubs.org/packs.htm

Hello Jerry, your summary on the packs is interesting although I differ on some accounts. One I'd enjoy discussing with the experts would be the ornate GQ pack. Can you provide any reference to the ornate GQ packs being used in 1888 to distribute N162 cards? Jay's packs date to May 1887 and Nov. 1889, neither being ornate. Likewise, the Round Album which was released in July of 1889 has the plain looking pack depicted (the N162 album, A36, still being offered). GQ was the "cheap" brand in 1887 and perhaps remained so until ATC merger, selling for only 5 cents/10 count pack (Old Judge and Dogs Head were both 10 cents/pack of 10). Maybe the ornate pack is post ATC merger, perhaps no cards inserted? Thoughts?

[Leon]

The dating is correct on the non-ornate GQ packs. They were marked on the inside shell which is different than most other types of dating I saw when collecting. Now I mainly collect rppc's of these types...

Originally Posted by Joe_G.

Hello Jerry, your summary on the packs is interesting although I differ on some accounts. One I'd enjoy discussing with the experts would be the ornate GQ pack. Can you provide any reference to the ornate GQ packs being used in 1888 to distribute N162 cards? Jay's packs date to May 1887 and Nov. 1889, neither being ornate. Likewise, the Round Album which was released in July of 1889 has the plain looking pack depicted (the N162 album, A36, still being offered). GQ was the "cheap" brand in 1887 and perhaps remained so until ATC merger, selling for only 5 cents/10 count pack (Old Judge and Dogs Head were both 10 cents/pack of 10). Maybe the ornate pack is post ATC merger, perhaps no cards inserted? Thoughts?

[1880nonsports]

I will address a couple of things when time permits but off to dive Eagle Grill for most excellent crab cakes. The shop/window displays I'm talking about were those from around 1880 - a time period where I would doubt you have any VISUAL evidence. Gotta run.....

Leon - that Ramley one just SPECTACULAR - I collected RPPC's for a while related to tobacco overall. It's a great niche - so much unique stuff.