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Tobacciana Exposed: Carnal Collectibles: Difference between revisions
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“For more than 300 years, tobacco products were ‘cool, available, and addictive.’ The rites and customs surrounding the use of tobacco over that period of time spawned thousands of peripheral products” (worldclassantiques.com). ''What to Smoke—What to Smoke With—And The Whole “What’s What” of Tobacco'' is the subtitle of Andrew Steinmetz, ''The Smoker’s Guide, Philosopher and Friend'' (1876). With knowledge comes wisdom, so here’s the whole “what’s what” of tobacciana. A century or so ago, one could find many novel formats and mediums for sale: European lacquer snuff boxes and Chinese snuff bottles, table and pocket cigar cutters and cigarette lighters, cigar and cigarette cases, cigar and cigarette holders, humidors, and dispensers, cigarette pack art, cigarette playing-card decks and cigarette trading card sets, cigar bands, cigar-box labels, ashtrays, match safes, strikers, and holders, match box labels and paper matchbook covers, tobacco tins, jars, tin tags, and tokens, pipes and pipe tampers, smoking jackets and hats, trench-art, and tramp-art cigar humidors and, before I forget, one of the most in-demand categories, ephemera, such signs, ads, caddy labels, posters, postcards, and trade catalogs of smokers’ articles. The sky was the limit in what was manufactured, purchased, displayed, used, and collected that related to smoking. Almost all these items are relics of the past. As a price guide to some of these collectibles, access “SMOKE: Tobacciana & Smoking Accoutrements,” an auction on April 20, 2022 (selkirkauctions.com). | “For more than 300 years, tobacco products were ‘cool, available, and addictive.’ The rites and customs surrounding the use of tobacco over that period of time spawned thousands of peripheral products” (worldclassantiques.com). ''What to Smoke—What to Smoke With—And The Whole “What’s What” of Tobacco'' is the subtitle of Andrew Steinmetz, ''The Smoker’s Guide, Philosopher and Friend'' (1876). With knowledge comes wisdom, so here’s the whole “what’s what” of tobacciana. A century or so ago, one could find many novel formats and mediums for sale: European lacquer snuff boxes and Chinese snuff bottles, table and pocket cigar cutters and cigarette lighters, cigar and cigarette cases, cigar and cigarette holders, humidors, and dispensers, cigarette pack art, cigarette playing-card decks and cigarette trading card sets, cigar bands, cigar-box labels, ashtrays, match safes, strikers, and holders, match box labels and paper matchbook covers, tobacco tins, jars, tin tags, and tokens, pipes and pipe tampers, smoking jackets and hats, trench-art, and tramp-art cigar humidors and, before I forget, one of the most in-demand categories, ephemera, such signs, ads, caddy labels, posters, postcards, and trade catalogs of smokers’ articles. The sky was the limit in what was manufactured, purchased, displayed, used, and collected that related to smoking. Almost all these items are relics of the past. As a price guide to some of these collectibles, access “SMOKE: Tobacciana & Smoking Accoutrements,” an auction on April 20, 2022 (selkirkauctions.com). | ||
Today, according to greatestcollectibles.com, an eBay search for antique tobacciana yields more than 7,000 listings and more than 400,000 listings for tobacciana. Terry Kovel, the Grande Dame of Antiques, considers this collectible field to be “smoking hot.” Elizabeth Stewart writes “No butts about it: ‘Tobacciana’ collectibles gaining value” (elizabethappraisals.com). And Mike Conklin adds “Pipe smokers may be a dying breed, but collectibles are on fire” (chicagotribune.com); | Today, according to greatestcollectibles.com, an eBay search for antique tobacciana yields more than 7,000 listings and more than 400,000 listings for tobacciana. Terry Kovel, the Grande Dame of Antiques, considers this collectible field to be “smoking hot.” Elizabeth Stewart writes “No butts about it: ‘Tobacciana’ collectibles gaining value” (elizabethappraisals.com). And Mike Conklin adds “Pipe smokers may be a dying breed, but collectibles are on fire” (chicagotribune.com); his choice of the adjective “dying” is rather crass and insensitive! | ||
Dr. Lori Verderame (lancasteronline.com) believes that “Some of the most popular tobacciana collectibles are cigar bands, humidors, smoking jackets, tobacco tins, pin-up calendars featuring cigarette ads, cigarette machines, smoking stands, matchbooks, midcentury modern Zippo lighters, cigar store Indian statues and smoking automatons, with values from a few dollars to several thousand dollars and more.” Jennifer Boles focused on just one collectible: “Vintage cigarette accessories are shedding the stigma associated with lighting up, and becoming highly addictive décor” (“Smoking Trinkets: The New Collectibles,” wsj.com). While the number of smokers may be dwindling, collecting tobacciana continues to be as popular as ever and many non-smokers are attracted to these collectibles. There’s something for everyone, and the challenge is to decide which items to collect. If any of this stuff appeals to you, join the Antique Advertising Association of America to learn more, and you’ll discover that there are specialized clubs all around the world. For prospective collectors, tobacciana is not one of the 100 most expensive fields of collectibles. | Dr. Lori Verderame (lancasteronline.com) believes that “Some of the most popular tobacciana collectibles are cigar bands, humidors, smoking jackets, tobacco tins, pin-up calendars featuring cigarette ads, cigarette machines, smoking stands, matchbooks, midcentury modern Zippo lighters, cigar store Indian statues and smoking automatons, with values from a few dollars to several thousand dollars and more.” Jennifer Boles focused on just one collectible: “Vintage cigarette accessories are shedding the stigma associated with lighting up, and becoming highly addictive décor” (“Smoking Trinkets: The New Collectibles,” wsj.com). While the number of smokers may be dwindling, collecting tobacciana continues to be as popular as ever and many non-smokers are attracted to these collectibles. There’s something for everyone, and the challenge is to decide which items to collect. If any of this stuff appeals to you, join the Antique Advertising Association of America to learn more, and you’ll discover that there are specialized clubs all around the world. For prospective collectors, tobacciana is not one of the 100 most expensive fields of collectibles. | ||