Checkerboard

October, 2017

In This Issue

Tobacco Advertising

By Jeremy Blum

History

Tobacco played a very important part in early American history. Tobacco was smoked or chewed by the Native Americans long before European settlement. Tobacco use was controversial from the beginning. In 1604 King James I of England wrote "Smoking is a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless." A brief early timeline is below. For more detail go to http://archive.tobacco.org/History/Tobacco_History.html.

Advertising

Tobacco has been heavily advertised since the 1870s when advances in lithography lead to the use of tobacco cards, trade cards, posters and signs. Products advertised were snuff, pipe tobacco, cigarettes and cigars. The heyday of the cigar was from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s when it was supplanted by cigarettes.

The Surgeon General first warned smoking leads to cancer and Bronchitis in 1964. A warning label was required on all cigarette packs in 1966. Advertising on TV, radio was banned in 1971. After that most advertising was in newspapers, magazines and billboards. Billboards and cartoon characters were banned in 46 states in 1997.

All the posters, trade cards, ashtrays, matchbooks, and cigar box labels and also the other items with a light wood background shown below are from my collection.

Picture Cards

Picture cards were included in cigarette packaging originally to stiffen them. They started in 1875 and continued into the 1940s. Popular subjects were actors and actresses, sports figures, Indians, animals, military, flags, plants, royalty, and much more. Most are smaller than a trade card and some were made of silk. Most picture cards are very affordable, selling for under $5. However, certain cards, especially those of baseball players have sold for thousands. A 1909 Honus Wagner card has sold for $2,800,000. The tobacco baseball cards are the precursor to the baseball cards sold today.



1903 BAT Water Girls Card, front and back

Indian Chief

Cubs famous infield Tinker to Evers to Chance c. 1910

Tins and Containers

Most rigid loose tobacco containers were made of steel and tin but some were also made of cardboard, brass, copper or aluminum. The original tins used to hold food or tobacco were invented in 1810 in England. Tins with stenciling or paper labels were some of the first advertising and was used in the 1840s through 1860s. In 1865, tax stamps were first used on tobacco tins. One color lithography started in the 1870s. Multi colored lithographed tins started in 1882 and became the primary method of producing graphics by 1891. The words patented or U.S. patent were first used in 1900. Tins are probably the largest tobacco related collecting category. There are several reference books and price guides that have been published. Most graphics were printed right on the can, though some do have paper labels. Tobacco tins come in all shapes and sizes. Smaller ones often held snuff or were made to fit in a pocket. Flat ones often were made to hold cigarettes. Large ones were often used by stores. While most post World War II tobacco tins can be found under $25, many earlier ones can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Pocket tin c. 1910s 

Pocket tin 1920s

Cardboard container 1890s

Cardboard container c. 1910 

Store Counter Top Tin

Signs

Signs are a very large category of collecting for tobacco products, just as it is for alcohol, farm, oil and gas and soda products. I am including in this category clocks, thermometers and other advertising other than posters that hung on a wall. Earlier signs were made of materials such as tin, porcelain and sometimes wood. Signs after World War II were often tin or cardboard. Many postwar signs can be found for under $100, though some go for several hundred dollars. Earlier signs if in good condition go for hundreds or sometimes even thousands of dollars.

Rolling Papers

In the 1960s and 1970s rolling papers became more associated with marijuana than tobacco. However, rolling papers were invented in 1832 in Turkey and heavily used for tobacco in the 1800s and early 1900s. The artist Alphonse Mucha produced a series of Job rolling papers posters in the 1890s that often sell for over $10,000 today. Papers usually came in small packs, no taller than the size of a cigarette. Since they take up little space and are affordable they can make an excellent display.

Trade Cards

Trade cards were one of the most prevalent form of advertising in the U.S. from around 1875 to 1900. They had their origin in England in the 1700s with tradesmen advertising their wares. The advent of lithography in the 1870s made it possible to mass-produce them in color. The cards were purchased by businesses from printers and then usually given to customers. Many Victorians collected them, often putting together large scrapbooks. Though worth little until a few decades ago, they are now heavily collected again. The sheer number printed, the small size, the strong colors, and the interesting content have insured that many survived. The color is a big draw as the chromolithography process provided a purer and sharper color than today’s color printing. The printing process was time consuming. Each color used in the image was separately drawn onto a stone or plate and applied to the paper one at a time. Those with more colors were more expensive to produce, but are generally more desirable today.

Trade cards give a great insight to the popular culture of the late Victorian age in America. In an age when almost every image was black and white, trade cards were a colorful depiction of everyday life, made better by the product being sold. Many show stereotypes that are politically incorrect today. Stereotypical images were shown of Blacks, Chinese, Jews, Irish and others. Women were primarily shown in the home. Like advertising today, many trade cards used either humor or pretty women to sell their product. Unlike today, there was a high level of children and flowers. Trade cards disappeared around the turn of the twentieth century due to the increased use of newspapers, magazines and postcards.

Cigarette Packs

Widespread smoking of cigarettes didn’t start until well into the twentieth century. Per capita cigarette smoking increased from 54 in 1900 to a peak of 4,259 in 1965. It then declined to 1,691 in 2006. Cigarette packs are usually small containers that contain 10-25 cigarettes with 20 being the most common number in the U.S. Size may vary in other countries. They come hard or soft. Hard ones are usually made of cardboard the soft ones of paper. Soft packs were more convenient, hard packs protect the contents better. Some older ones are tin. Cigarette packs were often sold through vending machines. Today many are sold in cartons. Cigarette brands often issue promotional packs today as a way to get around advertising restrictions and some are collectible. The listing below of cigarette market share in 1911 gives an indication of what common vintage cigarettes are out there.



Marlboro was originally a woman’s brand

Cross Collectible

Posters

I have created a separate category for posters from signs as the graphics are often much more colorful, complex and appealing. Posters are one of the earliest forms of advertising. Posters, showing pictures instead of just words were made possible by the advent of stone lithography in 1796 in Germany. However, the process was time consuming. Some advertising posters were using color by the 1840s. Improvements in this process in the 1870s made it possible to more inexpensively mass-produce posters in color. For posters from the late 1800s and early 1900s, the color is a big draw as the chromolithography process provided a purer and sharper color than today’s color printing. The printing process was still time consuming. Each color used in the image was separately drawn onto a stone or plate and applied to the paper one at a time. Those with more colors were more expensive to produce, but are generally more desirable today. Stone lithography came to an end around World War II.

Posters are often artist signed, dated and list the printer. Most posters if not dated on the paper can by dated by the design. Designs included art Nouveau in the 1890s and 1900s, art deco 1920s and 1930s, midcentury in the 1950s and early 1960s and many lesser known forms such as Cubism, Dada, Expressionism and Futurism. Also hair styles, vehicle and other product styles, and building styles can be used to ballpark date a poster.

The advent of radio, billboards and later TV and the internet significantly reduced their use in the second half of the 20th century. Collecting posters requires a willingness to use wall space. Large collections are difficult for this reason. Most vintage poster owners use them for décor, or because they go with other things they collect. Posters are one of the best antiques or collectibles for décor as they were made to catch the eye and are often pretty, striking or capture a mood.



Poster for first brand with picture cards,1880s

Alphonse Mucha Job papers poster 1890s

1940s Chesterfield

Lighters

Lighters, due to their small size, can be collected in quantity and usually for a small price. Ronson produced the first modern lighter in 1913. The Zippo lighter was invented in 1932. Zippo was noted for its reliability, "Life Time Warranty" and marketing as "Wind-Proof". In the 1950s, there was a switch in fuel choice from naphtha to butane. Butane allows for a controllable flame and has less odor. Lighters were used for advertising for many brands besides cigarettes.

Ashtrays

Ashtrays are a receptacle for cigarette and cigar ashes and are ubiquitous wherever there is smoking and people don’t want their ashes on the ground. The term ashtray came into being in 1926. The golden age of ashtrays started after the end of World War II and ended in 1980s and 1990s when smoking started being banned in public places. For this reason, they go well with many midcentury collections. Many ashtrays contained advertising. Hotel, motel and restaurant ashtrays are very common. Ashtrays are made of almost every material that doesn’t burn or melt under heat including glass, brass, pot metal, tin, porcelain, pottery and silver. Ashtrays are very affordable and usually cost less than $10. While some ashtrays are on stands, most that have advertising are table top and usually have notches at the rim to hold cigarettes or cigars.

Porcelain motel ashtray

Tin agricultural service space age ashtray

Glass restaurant ashtray 

Bank Glass Ashtray 1960s

Matchbooks

Collectors of matchbooks are known as phillumenists, or "lovers of light". The Rathkamp Matchcover Society has over 600 members and issues a bulletin six times a year. Matchbooks were invented in 1892, but were a technological failure. Since the striking surface was inside the book, all the matches often caught fire. By 1912, the technology was perfected. The heyday was the 1940s and 1950s after which lighters became a lot more inexpensive and the amount of smokers declined. Matchbooks are still being produced today. Collectors usually remove the matches by carefully removing the staple holding them on as a safety precaution. In some cases where advertising is printed right on the matches they are kept.

Cigar Boxes and Cigar Box Labels

In 1830, the banking firm of H.Upmann started shipping cigars, for the use of its directors in London, in sealed cedar boxes stamped with the bank's emblem. The bank then decided to go into the cigar business. The cedar box took off as a form of packaging for all the major Havana brands, and most handmade cigars. Cedar helps to prevent cigars from drying out and furthers the maturing process. Lithographed labels started in 1837 by Ramon Allones of Cuba. Today, the cigar boxes and unused labels are both collectible. Labels are a lot easier to find and take up much less space. They are also generally in much better condition as most available today were not used. Inner labels are rectangular and larger than the outer labels and are usually 8-10” wide. The outers are usually 4.5” squares. Many labels are common and can be found for under $10. Some however sell in the hundreds of dollars.

Outer cigar box labels c. 1900

Inner label, 1890s

Cigar box

Other Tobacco Collectibles

Table top cigar cutters from prior to World War II are collected today by country store and advertising collectors as they often contain the makers name or that of a tobacco brand. Most were made of cast iron or another metal.

Cigar Store Indians were made in the 1800s and early 1900s. These are handcarved wooden life-sized characters, and not always Indians. Those in good condition can sell for over $50,000 today.

Cigar bands were loops of paper put around a cigar to identify the brand.

Tobacco crate labels were like fruit crate labels, placed on wooden boxes to identify the brand.

Spittoons were used in the 1800s and early 1800s as a receptacle to spit out tobacco. Some have advertising.

Match holders were usually small metal objects placed on a wall and held loose matches.

Tobacco Plug Cutter

Indy Ad Show: A Successful Re-Invention

By Paul Lefkovitz

As previously reported, the Indy Ad Show was sold to new owners, Nona and Mark Wilson, doing business as Northstar Collective. They ushered in a new era of this long-running show in their inaugural event that took place September 23-24, 2017. By almost any measure, the show was a triumph in visionary out-of-the box thinking, attention to detail, sensitivity to the needs of dealers and buyers, and willingness to take risks.

The show was moved from the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis to the newly renovated Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, a short drive northwest of the city. They expanded the Indy Ad Show into an extravaganza of three shows, known collectively as the "Boone County Treasure Hunt". In addition to the Ad Show, a Vintage Market and a Gas and Oil Show also took place.

They amassed the largest assemblage of antique advertising dealers in one place at one time in years--perhaps ever. There were over 300 booths of great merchandise. Over 1300 people attended, many coming from very long distances. Buyers expressed sheer delight at the range, quality, and vast quantity of material that was available. A number of individuals voiced similar sentiments: "If you can't find something you like here, then you may as well give up."

So what did the new owners do right? A whole lot. They recruited record numbers of dealers. They dramatically reduced the cost of a booth. They expanded the show into three events. They charged only $8.00 to attend all three shows. They advertised the heck out of the event in trade publications, TV, radio, and even roadside billboards! They were flexible and helpful in their interactions with dealers.

In an unscientific poll conducted by this writer, most dealers reported being very pleased with their sales. In fact, some were unabashedly giddy about how well they did. However, the large number of dealers did result in higher levels of competition and some felt the impact of that. The vast majority of dealers that I spoke with were very happy with the new location in Boone County. The bottom line was that all I spoke with plan to return to future shows.

The buyers I spoke with reported having a great time. They were thoroughly delighted with both the quantity and quality of the items for sale. They also liked the new setting which offered interesting display areas, including nooks and crannies that hearkened back to the "good ol' days" of the Ad Show.

Kudos go to Nona and Mark for their gutsy and successful first showing! They report that they were especially pleased with the number of dealers and shoppers they reunited at the show.

The next show will once again take place at the Boone County location May 5-6, 2018. The owners plan to modify the hours a bit by opening the doors at 8:00 AM instead of 9:00 AM and closing the show at 1:00 PM on Sunday instead of 3:00 PM.

Hordes of collectors and dealers will eagerly be looking forward to the return of this exciting show in the Spring to see what treasures and opportunities await them.

Upcoming Auctions

October 21-22, 2017

Morphy Auctions

Coin-Op & Advertising

This auction will feature rare and exotic coin-op and antique advertising treasures. An 1899 Roover Bros. Elephant Wonder Jumbo Fortune Teller arcade machine being offered has an estimated value of $150,000-$250,000. Antique advertising is another key category in this auction, including an 1865 zinc cigar store Indian Maiden statue and a ten foot tall Reddy Kilowatt neon sign. On-line bidding. For more information, go to www.morphyauctions.com.

October 26-28, 2017

Chupp Auctions

Antiques & Advertising

This 3 day auction will include highly desirable signs, farm related advertising, petroleum, country store, soda pop, gas pumps, salesman samples, oil cans, and more. On-line bidding through www.auctionzip.com (Auctioneer ID # 11841).

Open House for Schimpff's Completed Expansion

On Saturday, October 28, 2017, Schimpff’s Confectionery, 347 Spring Street, Jeffersonville, Indiana, will host an Open House. Warren and Jill Schimpff and Schimpff’s Confectionery invite the public to help celebrate Schimpff’s completed expansion into the space next door at 345 Spring Street. Once owned by Great Uncle Charles Schimpff, as a stationery business, the newly restored 1800s building will be used for more retail space and added seating for deli and ice cream service.   The newly built space, in the rear, will be used for storage and future manufacturing.

Throughout the day, customers will have the opportunity to view all areas of the completed expansion. Light refreshments will be served. New candy items and several Red Hot Cinnamon products will be introduced. The lower floor of the historic building, complete with a new tin ceiling and restored terrazzo floor, will present customers with a wide variety of colorful antique advertising.  An early 1900s safe was found in the building and has been repurposed as a cash register station.  Customer seating includes a variety of antique tables, some with marble tops, and all with unique swing-out seats.

The centerpiece of the new advertising items is a very unique mahogany shelf unit that for years was in the corporate office of the Peerless Candy Company in Chicago. It contained sample jars of hard candy that the company produced. There are 64 jars of candy.  The candy was sealed in the jars in the 1950s, a true treasure on loan to Schimpff’s from Kitty Picken, the last owner of Peerless. The company closed in 2007 after 93 years in business.

Schimpff’s Confectionery is one of the oldest family-owned candy businesses, in its original location, in the United States! Schimpff’s was opened on April 11, 1891, by Gustav Schimpff Sr. Warren & Jill purchased the business in 1990, to keep ownership in the family. In 2000, they purchased the building next door to the north and added a demonstration area and an extensive candy museum. The newest expansion, at 345 Spring Street, promises to take Schimpff’s into the future.

Wanted Items

 

In this column are those sought-after items of desire that seem to be elusive. If you know where any of these items can be acquired or if you have one available, please click the link to reply directly to the seeker. To place a listing in this column, click here . There is no fee for AAAA members. Up to three listings per member are permitted.

Unusual one pound peanut butter tins . Tin litho or paper label. To reply, click here .

Marshmallow Tins, Smaller than 5 Pound Size. To reply, click here .

American Cookie, Biscuit and Cracker Tins and Boxes . To reply, click here .

Columbian Stove sign made by the Keeley Stove Co. in Columbia PA To reply, click here or call 717-572-3108.

 

Continental Cubes Tobacco Tin: (Larger pocket tin....one size above the normal size pocket). Also large red 3 lb. Franklin coffee tin canister (Ben Franklin face). To reply, click here .

 

VITAMINS advertising, displays, signs, bottles, and anything related: Hadacol is an example. Most would come from the 1930’s thru the 1970’s. Also anything related to cod-liver oil and WEIGHT-LOSS, REDUCING, ANTI-FAT, and OBESITY ITEMS. To reply, click here .

 

Early tin signs lithographed by Tuchfarber, Wells and Hope, Worcester Sign Company, Sentenne and Green, etc. I can pay more for good condition, but would be interested in any condition. Don Lurito  [email protected] also in the directory. To reply, click here .

 

Dwinell-Wright Co. Royal Ground Spice Cardboard Spice Boxes. One side displays horizontally. Approximately 3.75" by 2.25". Any type of spice is OK. To reply, click here .

 

ENSIGN Perfect and ENSIGN Perfection vertical pocket tobacco tins to enhance my collection. Feel free to contact me at 614-888-4619 or [email protected] to see if you can help fill the voids.

 

Ice Cream Advertising.  Mr. Ice Cream desires better ice cream advertising including: postcards, trade cards, letterheads, billheads, booklets, poster stamps, blotters, magic lantern slides, pinbacks, watchfobs and pocket mirrors. Allen Mellis, 1115 West Montana St. Chicago, Illinois 60614-2220.  [email protected] . To reply, click here .

 

Empty tin cans (new) to place vintage labels on. Different sizes preferred. Do you know of a source where these can be purchased in volume? To reply, click here .

 

Tall 1 lb. Mallard Coffee Can - Shows duck taking off. To reply, click here .

 

Chewing gum packs, sticks, wrappers, full boxes, lifesavers, candy bar wrappers, displays, and boxes.  Anything candy related. To reply, click here . 

 

Pre-1900 advertising items related to: barbed wire, farm fence gates, tools for erecting or mending wire fences, and farm fences. Only primary material please--no ads from newspapers, etc. Larry W. Love. To reply, click here .

 

Armour Foods Signs, Cardboards, Store Displays, Die-Cuts Wanted. To reply, click here .

 

Cigar advertising tip trays, pinbacks, or any unusual cigar advertising items. Harry Cohn: To reply, click here .

 

Walt Foster Art Books Store Floor Rack:  To reply, click here :

 

JG Flynt Sir Walter Raleigh Pocket Tin:  To reply, click here .

 

Vintage Photos of General Stores or Soda Fountains . Authentic 1890-1930 examples only--no modern reprints please. Mounted photo or RPPC. Interior or exterior. Send scan. To reply, click here .

 

Firecracker Packs:  Collector buying all old fireworks-packs, boxes, advertising, whatever. To reply, call 931-237-3646 or click here .

 

Lefkowitz & Sons Company Soda Fountain Collectables:  I am seeking any soda fountain product or equipment labeled "Lefkowitz".  To reply click here . 

 

Posters of Beautiful Women or Children Advertising a Drug Store or Country Store Product.  Pre-1930. Preferable with product shown in image. Original frame and good condition a plus--also NOS country store or drug store products, advertising of any kind, or any product with great graphics and full of contents a plus. To reply, click here .

 

Spice Tins WANTED!!   Hard core collector looking for brands I don't have and upgrades for ones I do have. Looking for good old spice tins with pictures. Birds, people, trains, etc. I have a few traders but mainly a buyer. To reply, click here . 

 

Minnesota Brewery Items including Hamm's, Grain Belt, Fitgers, Gluek and others. Also collect rare Minnesota advertising pieces. To reply, click here .

 

Vintage Baseball/Football Cards:  Pre-1970 Only To reply, click here .

 

Clicquot Club:  Lighted Clicquot Club advertising clock made by Telechron and Telechron lighted advertising clock.  To reply, click here .

 

Yellow Kid Wanted:  The more unusual,the better. To reply, click here .

 

Harvard Brewing Signs/Lithographs:  To reply, click here . 

 

Ivanhoe Pencil Tin:  Fair price and also finder's fee paid. Approx 1" diam, 9" long, blue in color, round, with picture of Ivanhoe on horseback. To reply, click here .

 

Noaker Ice Cream Company Canton, Ohio : 13" Round ice cream tray from "the Noaker Ice Cream Company Canton, Ohio" in good or better condition. It has the boy & girl eating ice cream on the front. To reply, click here .

 

B.T. Babbit Soap Advertisement Posters:  See Antique Advertising Encyclopedia (Vol. II) by Klug page 54 and 55. Condition is very important. To reply, click here .

 

DeLaval:  Tin advertising, give-aways and other collectibles produced by the company. To reply, click here .

 

Edmands Coffee Company, Edmands Tea Company, 1776 Coffee, American Beauty Tea, Japan Tea, Devonshire Tea, (imported by Edmands, Boston/Chicago):  Any items such as tins, signs, paper, or anything else related to the Edmands family of companies in Boston is desired. To reply, click here .

 

Heathman Bakery, Dayton, Ohio:  Interested in any items related to this business. To reply, click here .

 

Indianapolis Brewing Company Ephemera: Circa 1920. Specifically looking for signed documents. To reply, click here .

The AAAA Checkerboard is a monthly e-newsletter that is made available to all AAAA members at no cost. The mission of the Checkerboard is to increase knowledge about antique and collectible advertising among AAAA members. The Checkerboard also provides news and updates about AAAA. It is produced each month with the exception of the four months per year when the award-winning PastTimes print newsletter is published. Paul Lefkovitz ( [email protected] ) serves as Editor of the AAAA Checkerboard. Copyright, 2017, Antique Advertising Association of America