Tobacciana

About Tobacciana

Tobacco became popular in Europe in the 1600's, after traders brought back tobacco plants from the Americas. Pipes, borrowed from the Native Americans, were the first popular method of smoking, and were made of wood, bone, clay, and even metal. Some of the most valuable antique pipes are those made of meerschaum, a rare white stone.

Cigars, which have long been popular in Central and South America, have a whole set of collectibles associated with them, including cigar boxes, humidors, cigar cutters, and special
cigar lighters. ...

Next came the cigarette, popularized during the Crimean war when soldiers would roll their pipe tobacco in newsprint. Related collectibles include tobacco tins, tobacco cards, ashtrays, matchbooks, and vintage advertising and signs. Over the years, tobacco companies created iconic logos like Zig-Zag's Zouave and The Camel (later Joe Camel), and put their slogans on everything from clothing to posters to statuettes.

Cigarette lighters are a category all their own, with major brands including Zippo, Ronson, and Dunhill. There's a wide variety of lighters to collect in every material imaginable. Although lighters haven't changed much from their original designs in the early 1900s, the older the lighter, the more decorated they tend to be. And don't forget the lighter's precursor, the lowly but often highly ornamented match holder (aka match safe).

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview with Vintage Cigarette Lighter Collector Urban Cummings

At the very beginning, my interest in lighters was about the mechanism. I had my first lighter when I was 14.… [more]

Guest Column: Collecting Vintage Cigarette Lighters

Cigarette lighter collecting is a hobby that never gets boring. Just by browsing eBay auctions for ten minute… [more]



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Tobacciana Videos



See all 31 videos


Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Match World

Match World

This ambitious site showcases the 20,000-item Rankei Library matchbook collection, owned by the Japan Match Manufac… [read review or visit site]

Kensitas Silk Flowers

Kensitas Silk Flowers

Don Wearmouth and his wife showcase the 230 beautiful silk designs that were distributed free with Kensitas cigaret… [read review or visit site]

Matchbox Labels

Matchbox Labels

Jane McDevitt's huge Flickr photoset of matchbox labels, primarily Eastern European, from the 1950s and 60s. These … [read review or visit site]

Truth in Advertising

Truth in Advertising

This gallery of cigarette magazine advertising from the 1940s and 50s contains no surgeon general's warning, just p… [read review or visit site]

Matchbook Museum

Matchbook Museum

James Lileks' gallery of 250 matchbooks from coffee shops, hotels, motels, bars, banks, restaurants and more. Lilek… [read review or visit site]

Non Sports Cards: Tobacco, Gum and Candy

Non Sports Cards: Tobacco, Gum and Candy

Tom Boblitt moderates this extremely deep, collaborative site dedicated to non-sports cards (tobacco, gum and candy… [read review or visit site]

Lamarde

Lamarde

This blog, entirely in Spanish, is an amazingly comprehensive and varied tribute to tobacco and cigarette advertisi… [read review or visit site]


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Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly Tobacciana email

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Genuine Dunhill Unique Aquarium Table Lighter $3,250 Ends in 2 hours 1 bid 21 watchers
Beautifull 18kt Dunhill Petrol Lighter$1,675 Ends Sunday 11 bids 19 watchers
Bo Nordh Cross Grain Lumberman Pipe * Mint & Gorgeous! $1,525 Ends Sunday 12 bids 63 watchers
1945 Black Cat Cigarette Steel Enamel Porcelain Ad Sign$1,475 Ends in 15 hours 22 bids 72 watchers
Jorn Micke Straight Grain Freehand * Mint & Gorgeous! $1,130 Ends Sunday 14 bids 60 watchers
Rare Ronson Lighter Touch-tip Bartender Cocktail Deco$1,081 Ends Monday 23 bids 79 watchers
Commercial Display Humidor, Spanish Cedar, Brand New $1,025 Ends Monday 6 bids 4 watchers
Charatan Coronation Straight Grain Pipe * A Must See!$1,000.00 Ends Sunday 21 bids 60 watchers
Padron 40th Anniversary Humidor With Org.40 Cigar Bands$925.00 Ends in 23 hours 1 bid 15 watchers
1980 Dunhill Dr Xl 4**** Pipe In Original Box$850.00 Ends Sunday 3 bids 22 watchers
Danish Estate Pipe Anne Julie *unsmoked* Unique & Rare$810.00 Ends Monday 11 bids 39 watchers
Dunhill Pipe Shell Briar 4013 Einstein's Edition. Rare$800.00 Ends in 5 hours 29 bids 39 watchers
Camel Greek Mythology Set Of Ten Zippo (s) 2005 Mib$660.00 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 6 watchers
Very Rare C1920 Automaton Naughty Match Safe Vesta Case$630.00 Ends Sunday 17 bids 112 watchers
Opus X, Padron, Davidoff,gof,etc.-very Rare Band Bundle$619.82 Ends in 11 hours 7 bids 8 watchers
New Sealed Opus X Box Super Belicoso Bands Very Rare!$535.00 Ends Sunday 10 bids 9 watchers
Charatan, Pre Lane Era Pipe, Unsmoked, Supreme 43 $520.00 Ends Thursday 13 bids 29 watchers
Volcano Vaporizer Digital W/ Solid Valve Kit$510.00 Ends Monday 17 bids 32 watchers
Barling Pre Transition 1957 Ye Olde Wood Special El $510.00 Ends Sunday 36 bids 45 watchers
Fuente Opus X Perfection X Sealed Box Of 32 Bands$480.00 Ends in 9 hours 11 bids 12 watchers
Rare Naughty Enamelled French Vesta / Match Safe C1890$450.10 Ends Sunday 12 bids 33 watchers
Opus X $450.00 Ends in 5 hours 1 bid 9 watchers
1974 Dunhill 'shell Briar', Lbs F/t Pipe, Unsmoked$450.00 Ends Monday 6 bids 15 watchers
Volcano Digital Vaporizer$445.00 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 3 watchers
Michael Butera Royal Classic Straight Grain Calabash$430.13 Ends Sunday 12 bids 25 watchers
Large Chonowitsch 10 Ring Grained Tall Bulldog Nos $415.21 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 23 watchers
Volcano Vaporizer Classic Solid Valve Herbal System $405.00 Ends Sunday 10 bids 16 watchers
S. Bang Huge Cross Grain Horn * Grade D! * Gorgeous!!!$382.00 Ends Sunday 10 bids 41 watchers
Ronson "cigarette Box" Striker Lighter - Rare - 1935!!!$375.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 12 watchers
1919 Dunhill Shell Briar 5 Patent W/sterling * Must See$355.00 Ends Sunday 23 bids 74 watchers
Anne Julie Rose Styled Hand Made Pipe Unbelievable Rare$350.00 Ends in 5 hours 10 bids 25 watchers
Danish Estate Pipe: Former Bent Billiard *unsmoked* $349.77 Ends Sunday 17 bids 40 watchers
Scottish Provincial Silver Snuff Box. Aberdeen C1780$348.79 Ends Thursday 10 bids 17 watchers
Solid 14ct Gold Petrol Lighter Aztec Design 83grams$343.61 Ends in 3 hours 6 bids 13 watchers
Cuban Crafters Cabinet Humidor $334.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 2 watchers
Museum Item Bauhaus Hael Werkstatte Smokers Set 1930 !!$325.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 10 watchers
S.t.dupont Opus X Lighter Line 2. White/red Rare. $320.00 Ends Wednesday 17 bids 11 watchers
Danish Estate Pipe: Former With Saddle Bit $310.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids 16 watchers
S.t.dupont Place Vendome Lighter. Limited Edtition. New$306.99 Ends Monday 11 bids 10 watchers
Solid 14kt Dunhill Vintage Lighter W Box And Papers $305.00 Ends Sunday 10 bids 28 watchers
W. Ø. Larsen Pearl Straight Grain Panel Apple Pipe $305.00 Ends Sunday 15 bids 52 watchers
English Estate Pipe: James Upshall E With Gold Band$301.33 Ends Sunday 15 bids 22 watchers
Tom Eltang Unsmoked Saucer Pipe Bamboo Shank Phenomenal$300.00 Ends Sunday 11 bids 70 watchers
English Estate Pipe: Dunhill Oda 835 Shell 1961$300.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids 19 watchers
Vintage Art Deco Ronson De-light Tall Table Lighter Amw$291.00 Ends Sunday 15 bids 38 watchers
Stunning Silver & Enamel Vesta Case.birmingham 1893.$290.66 Ends Monday 5 bids 29 watchers
S.t. Dupont Brushed Palladium Ligne 2 Lighter - 16791$287.00 Ends Sunday 6 bids 6 watchers
5 Ft Tall Wooden Cigar Store Indian Chief Flag$285.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 8 watchers
1985 Dunhill Shell Pipe W/tall Bowl And Gold Band$277.00 Ends Sunday 14 bids 27 watchers
Antique Chinese Opium Pipe Cleaner$275.05 Ends Monday 7 bids 18 watchers
Dunhill Thames Oak Pipe Never Smoked #6 Of 500$275.00 Ends Thursday 24 bids 41 watchers
Beautiful High Grade "a" S. Bang Pipe By Noltensmeier$271.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 32 watchers
Dazzling Antique H-engraved Persian Solid Silver Case$266.00 Ends in 1 hour 17 bids 41 watchers
Solid 9ct Mint Rose Gold Vesta Case. Birmingham 1900.$257.44 Ends Monday 8 bids 29 watchers
S.bang "9" Large & Gorgeous$255.00 Ends Sunday 6 bids 31 watchers
Volcano Vaporizer Classic Solid Valve Herbal System$255.00 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 6 watchers
Davidoff Of Geneva #6 Rosewood Humidor [lists At +$800]$250.00 Ends Monday 11 bids 19 watchers

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Recent News: Tobacciana

Source: Google News

Sample ballots available for Nov. 10 municipal election
Tulsa Beacon, November 5th

Throughout the evening, patrons can bid on the Silent Auction items, shop at the PX, grab a bite to eat at Rosie's Canteen, admire the vintage aircraft and...Read more

Holiday Craft Show highlights local work
Greene County Daily World, November 3rd

By Timberly Ferree, Staff Writer For a magical holiday shopping experience be sure to check out the 14th annual Old Tobacco Barn Holiday Craft Show in...Read more

Most Hilarious Vintage Smoking Ads
Manolith, November 2nd

And when it comes to products that have absolutely no personal benefit, tobacco products take the cake. As such, smoking products have been, and will always...Read more

Three decades of Napa with Freemark Abbey
Los Angeles Times, October 30th

Edwards showed a pair of 1995 vintage single-vineyard Cabernets from Bosché and Sycamore, and a pair from the same vineyards from 1987...Read more

Lawyer in landmark breast implant lawsuits dies
The Associated Press, October 29th

HOUSTON — Flamboyant lawyer John O'Quinn, who won billions in verdicts against makers of breast implants, pharmaceuticals and tobacco products,...Read more

Broome County to rededicate Harvey Justice Building on Monday
Press & Sun-Bulletin, October 25th

By Nancy Dooling •ndooling@gannett.com • October 25, 2009, 6:00 pm For much of the next 70 years, the vintage Art Deco building at Hawley Street housed the...Read more

What Recession? It's time to splurge
Examiner.com, October 20th

The winemaker notes that the vintage is infused with brown spices and hints of tobacco and good acidity. The two panel members concurred and added they...Read more

36 Hours in Richmond
New York Times, October 15th

But Richmond may finally be having its big moment: a building boom in the last few years has seen century-old tobacco warehouses transformed into lofts and...Read more

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