Tobacco-related Items can make you Wealthy
Published on April 15, 2009 3:19 AM
In 19th century, as today, smoking was an important part of the life of well-to-do gentlemen. They used to smoke a cigar after dinner. For them a cigar or cigarettes after dinner became a routine.
You might not believe this, but tobacco items are in demand today. Many smokers and non-smokers started to collect tobacco-related items not only to be useful but also to show off wealth.
Today tobacco collectors still search for all kinds of tobacco-related items, even though smoking has lost favor in our days. In general they collect pipes, ashtrays, cigar holders, lighters, cigarette or cigar cases, cigarette or cigar boxes, cigarette dispensers and smoking stands.
Some collectors collect also commercial packaging and advertising, including cigar box labels and wooden boxes, packs of matches, cigar bands, cigarettes packs, trade cards for tobacco products, cut-out newspaper and magazine ads, large posters and other store ads, and store cigar lighters and cabinets.
Many items sell for under $50, but some "tobacciana" collectibles are very expensive. Chrome, plastic, glass or porcelain match and cigarette urns, jewel-studded gold or silver cigarette cases, sterling cigarette boxes for the table and bronze ashtrays by famous makers sell to collectors of fine arts.
One unusual piece from about 1860 is a silver cigar lighter and holder made by Tiffany & Company. The top part is an urn-shaped cigar lighter held by two figures of Hercules. Below that is a pierced salver made to hold cigars. This tobacco item was a gift to New York banker Charles Christmas from his partner, August Belmont, who became chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1860.
Kentucky is considered to be one of the biggest tobacco producing states in USA, where can be found a lot of tobacco collectors.
