Thought this Ogden's "Venetian" cigarette tin superb. I thought it may have been used to top-up a loose cigarette cabinet but can't find the brand on any of the cabinet pictures I have and because of the very decorative inside lid, I believe it was used as a counter display tin. Date 1897 - 1918.

bacco

 Hi Tom,

It is a very nice tin and no it is not in the auction as I am continuing my interest in early tobacco/cigarette tins.

bacco

 A fairly nice , but plain tin ..untill ... you open the lid and see the stunning graphic ..almost a bonus . Very nice Bacco .

 Hi Bacco. That is a nice tin, well done . I saw a tin for sale a couple of months ago, but it just said "Venetian Flake ". It was pictorial with a gondola etc but no makers name and so l didn't buy it . Have you come across that or any other tin without any makers name ......surely the whole idea would be to advertise the company? Any info gratefully received, Cheers Broadie

 Hi Broadie,

It is most certainly common that some manufacturers produced brand named tobacco/cigarettes missing out the company name. One of the biggest culprits was Ogden's. But all brand names were subject to registration, so a little research soon finds the manufacturer. However, why they omit company name is baffling.

bacco

Advertising and branding were considered to be crude and base. If the product was likely to stay in the packaging and to be kept on your person or in your home and especially if you were aiming your product at the "upper classes" and more broadly to women then best leave it off or at least minimise it. That's why older stuff is more illustrative in general.

Having the end user do the companies advertising for them is a brilliant, if long fought coup. Basically, putting the label on the outside for all to see. It's also why so much advertising is about the company rather than the actual product. Cool by association.

Can you imagine a victorian or edwardian dude walking around with NIKE balzoned across his chest.

Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 well I got it in the end. still no idea who made it, has anybody seen it before?    i love it . cheers Broadie.

 Hi Broadie,

That is a really nice tin. The only reference for "Ventian Flake" I can find is under Ogden's and dated 1890 - 1910..

In a seperate publication under "Venetian Cigarettes" which is my tin, it dates the brand 1897 - 1918.

I suppose the question is why would they change the design on the flake tin for a different design on the cigarette tin?????? I wonder if anyone has an Ogden's cigrette cabinet with the "Venetian" brand on it??????  (Ask Andy)

bacco

 Hi Bacco . Andy thinks it's Ogdens. May be Nige has seen it before.We will see if anyone comes up with any information. Cheers Broadie.

Lovely tin. That's there no company name is pretty odd. It's not like it could be a stock tin. Let's hope someone has something insightful to add.

 Very nice tins .