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In the 19th century,
tins were used to store an increasing range of products, including precious
commodities such as tea or snuff, because the near- airtight seal of the lid
preserved the freshness of the contents.
Early tins were usually plain and had paper labels, but these were easily damaged. In 1868 the first transfer-printed tin was made for the Reading-based biscuit maker Huntley & Palmer, and in 1879 the company was able to print directly onto the tin using offset lithography.
Other food manufacturers followed and the decorative tin soon became a familiar form of packaging.
Early tins were usually plain and had paper labels, but these were easily damaged. In 1868 the first transfer-printed tin was made for the Reading-based biscuit maker Huntley & Palmer, and in 1879 the company was able to print directly onto the tin using offset lithography.
Other food manufacturers followed and the decorative tin soon became a familiar form of packaging.
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Many of these early tins have highly complex and well-detailed printed.
Possibly
because it was the first, Huntley & Palmer is the best-known brand in tin
collecting, but tins were also made by other biscuit makers such as Crawford's,
Jacob's, and Peek Frean.
Along with tobacco, toffee, and other confectionery tins, biscuit tins tend to be among the most creative.
Ship-shape
Along with tobacco, toffee, and other confectionery tins, biscuit tins tend to be among the most creative.
Ship-shape
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Among the best-sellers were Huntley & Palmer's book sets, shaped to look like a row of handsome leather-bound volumes.
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By 1924 the firm had made 10 variations on this theme, including 'Literature' in 1901 and, in 1911, Dickens'. One of these trompe l'oeil' tins can now fetch up to £200, depending on condition.
Look out for tins in the shapes of cars, boats, or people,
especially if they have moving parts such as wheels. Many have richly coloured
and detailed decoration.
Examining the style of the artwork and typography can help to date different pieces. Huntley Palmer's 1907 Christmas catalogue
featured a tin shaped like an angler's wicker fishing basket, complete with
belt loops, handle, and a hinged lid, which may command upwards of £100 today,
depending on condition. A Huntley & Palmer.
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In 1868 both Fry's and Cadbury's confectionery firms
offered decorative printed chocolate tins for the Christmas market.
To compete, toffee and boiled-sweet companies also produced decorative tins. In the 1920s Sharp's sold Super-Kreem' toffee in a variety of tins featuring a character called Sir Kreemy Knut and his parrot Kreemy. Circular 'Kreemy Knut' tins are usually worth up to around £40, but a cottage-shaped tin can fetch up to around £80.
To compete, toffee and boiled-sweet companies also produced decorative tins. In the 1920s Sharp's sold Super-Kreem' toffee in a variety of tins featuring a character called Sir Kreemy Knut and his parrot Kreemy. Circular 'Kreemy Knut' tins are usually worth up to around £40, but a cottage-shaped tin can fetch up to around £80.
Prices for other confectionery tins, such as for Dunn's
chocolate or Rowntree's, can range from about .£50 to ±200 for older tins with
attractive, detailed artwork.
A 1905 golf-club-shaped tin for Clarnico can usually be found for less than £100. Sweet tins tend to be relatively small (often less than 15cm (6in) long), so desirably shaped examples are generally more affordable than shaped biscuit tins — and provide a good starting point for anyone on a limited budget interested in building a collection of novelty-shaped tins.
A 1905 golf-club-shaped tin for Clarnico can usually be found for less than £100. Sweet tins tend to be relatively small (often less than 15cm (6in) long), so desirably shaped examples are generally more affordable than shaped biscuit tins — and provide a good starting point for anyone on a limited budget interested in building a collection of novelty-shaped tins.
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Tin cans were
also used for tea, cocoa, mustard, and other household products. Many of these
had intricate, charming designs, sometimes with images of Europeans in far-off
lands
. A good example is a Mazawattee tea tin of about 1910 showing a
bespectacled granny and her granddaughter sipping tea against an exotic
background, which can be worth 15-20 today. Many biscuit and toffee tins were
designed to be used as tea caddies once the original contents had been eaten.
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By the 1880s smoking was a popular habit and there were
hundreds of tobacco manufacturers.
No effort was spared in the race to make an airtight tobacco tin to keep the rough shag', or loose tobacco, fresh. Countless designs were made, and with prices starting from as little as ±10-20 for a
No effort was spared in the race to make an airtight tobacco tin to keep the rough shag', or loose tobacco, fresh. Countless designs were made, and with prices starting from as little as ±10-20 for a
Wills, both of whose tins can fetch £50-250 or more,
depending on the intricacy and attractiveness of the artwork.
Companies vied with each other to give their brands
powerful images, such as 'Search Light' and Thunder Clouds'.
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Pocket tins' are particularly collectable in the USA. These
are pocket-sized rectangular tins with rounded edges in which tobacco could be
carried around easily.
Some are curved to fit against the body. Prices start at around £50, but rare designs and tins with multicoloured, complex patterns or patriotic artwork may cost £200-800 or more.
Some are curved to fit against the body. Prices start at around £50, but rare designs and tins with multicoloured, complex patterns or patriotic artwork may cost £200-800 or more.
The tiny needles used in early wind-up gramophones were
sold in little tins, and today these containers are inexpensive, with values
remaining well under £100.
They form an ideal collection theme for people with limited space, as each tin is only about 4cm (l!4in) wide. The artwork is often more important than the manufacturer, and its style can help to date a tin.
A tin from the 1920s featuring Nipper, the dog representing HMV, may fetch less than £10, while a tin from the same decade decorated with, for example, a striking Art Deco image, can be worth up to £60.
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They form an ideal collection theme for people with limited space, as each tin is only about 4cm (l!4in) wide. The artwork is often more important than the manufacturer, and its style can help to date a tin.
A tin from the 1920s featuring Nipper, the dog representing HMV, may fetch less than £10, while a tin from the same decade decorated with, for example, a striking Art Deco image, can be worth up to £60.
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The heyday of decorative tins began to draw to a close in
the 1960s, once cheaper packaging, such as plastic and plasticised sachets, was
introduced, but tins made before the 1960s are still collectable.
A Rowntree's Quality Street' or Cadbury's Roses' chocolates tin can be bought for around £1-£5.
A Rowntree's Quality Street' or Cadbury's Roses' chocolates tin can be bought for around £1-£5.
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Look for tins with attractive
artwork, particularly those in period styles, such as 1930s Art Deco or the
Modern style of the 1950s, as these are sought after not only by tin collectors
hut also by enthusiasts of graphic design and those with a special interest in
collecting pieces from these eras — which tends to inflate the price.
Look out,
too, for commemorative tins, such as those celebrating the Coronation in 1953-
A Carr's commemorative biscuit tin can fetch around £20.
Novelty shapes continued to be produced, such as a 1950s Carr's biscuit tin, made by the well-known toymaker, Chad Valley, in the shape of a bus , now worth about £400. Because so many more examples of recent tins exist, it is best to choose ones that are in really good condition.
Novelty shapes continued to be produced, such as a 1950s Carr's biscuit tin, made by the well-known toymaker, Chad Valley, in the shape of a bus , now worth about £400. Because so many more examples of recent tins exist, it is best to choose ones that are in really good condition.
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Tins from
the 1960s onwards are not particularly popular at the moment, but there may be
an increase in demand for them in the future.
Choose pieces that are in mint condition and those that carry popular brand names. Tin Cans that are unusual in shape,decorated in attractive colours, or are for special occasions, are also worth collecting.
Choose pieces that are in mint condition and those that carry popular brand names. Tin Cans that are unusual in shape,decorated in attractive colours, or are for special occasions, are also worth collecting.
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