15 Old Tobacco Tins with Auction Prices That Surprise New Collectors
Old tobacco tins have long been a part of tobacco culture, but many newcomers to collecting are often surprised by their auction prices. The history, craftsmanship, and unique branding of these tins make them highly sought after by collectors. As with most vintage items, condition plays a major role in their value, but even lesser-known tins can fetch impressive prices when the right collector shows interest. For those just starting to explore the world of tobacco, the wide range of styles and designs can be overwhelming, but it’s part of what makes this hobby so fascinating. Some tins, especially those with limited editions or eye-catching artwork, can sell for far more than expected. Auction houses and online marketplaces have proven to be a great place for collectors to find these rare treasures.
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Ante Bellum Plug Cut Tobacco Tin
The Ante Bellum Plug Cut tin from J H McElwee Co in Statesville, North Carolina, is one of the star pieces in old tobacco advertising. Its vertical format, rich colors, and early lithography give it a presence that is hard to match.
Because surviving examples in high condition are scarce, this tin often becomes the centerpiece of an advanced collection. One recorded sale reached about $4,400, and current high grade examples still tend to fall in that same impressive range when they reach the auction block.
Torpedo Short Cut Tobacco Tin
The Torpedo Short Cut tobacco tin is well known for its naval imagery, often featuring a ship charging ahead across the front panel. This dramatic scene makes it a standout piece that looks powerful in any tobacciana grouping.
Collectors prize this tin due to its design and relative scarcity, especially when the artwork remains vivid and the metal shows only light wear. Strong examples have sold at auction for around $2,500, and the best tins can climb higher when multiple collectors chase the same piece.
American Eagle Tobacco Tin
The American Eagle tobacco tin combines patriotic themes with strong branding, making it a favorite for those who enjoy national symbols in their collections. When the eagle image remains clear and the colors have not faded too much, the tin becomes an eye catcher.
Because of its striking subject and relative scarcity in high grade, this tin regularly brings impressive bids. Auction records show strong examples selling for around $800, and especially fine tins can push up toward $900 in active sales.
American Girl Tobacco Tin
The American Girl tobacco tin often features a feminine branding style that stands out from more rugged tobacco labels. This contrast makes it memorable on a shelf and helps it fit nicely into displays that focus on advertising imagery.
Collectors who enjoy unusual brand names appreciate American Girl because it tells a different story about how tobacco was marketed. A presentable tin in good shape often sells for around $275, while particularly crisp examples may reach $300 when bidding gets lively.
All Nations Tobacco Tin
The All Nations tobacco tin carries a name that suggests broad appeal, and many examples show lively graphics and strong typography. Though the brand is not as famous as some giants of the trade, the tin’s look and age give it solid collector interest.
People who collect advertising tins like All Nations because it pairs well with other early packaging from general stores and tobacco counters. A good example can bring around $300 at auction, with very bright tins sometimes rising toward $350.
Muratti “After Lunch” Tobacco Tin
The Muratti “After Lunch” tin is a smaller, elegant piece aimed at smokers who enjoyed a specific blend after meals. The wording on the tin alone gives it charm, since it hints at older social habits around daily smoking routines.
Because it is less common in some markets, the tin attracts collectors who enjoy European brands and quirkier product names. A decent example often sells around $60, and tins with particularly clean surfaces and lettering may bring up to $75.
Nestor Gianaclis “Setos” Cigarette Tin
The Nestor Gianaclis “Setos” tin comes from an Egyptian producer known for high quality cigarette brands that reached customers worldwide. Its design usually features refined lettering and subtle ornament, giving it a different look from many bold American tins.
Collectors interested in global smoking history often look for this piece because it represents a different side of the trade. Clean examples in sound condition often sell around $150, with stronger specimens sometimes pushing closer to $180 when multiple bidders take interest.
Dutch “Moortjes” Litho Tobacco Tin
The Moortjes tobacco tin from the Netherlands features colorful lithography that reflects European design trends from the early to mid twentieth century. Its foreign origin makes it an appealing addition for collectors who want their shelves to show variety beyond domestic brands.
Because fewer of these tins were imported into some regions, they do not appear as often in local markets, which can help prices. A solid Moortjes tin with good color and only minor rust can bring around $325, while especially attractive pieces may reach $400.
“Forest & Stream” Pocket Tobacco Tin
The Forest and Stream pocket tobacco tin combines outdoor imagery with smoking history, often showing scenes linked to fishing or country life. It is a Canadian brand, so examples in other regions can feel a bit harder to track down, especially in strong condition.
Collectors appreciate this tin because it appeals both to fishing enthusiasts and tobacciana fans, which gives it a wider audience at auction. A nice example with legible graphics and light wear commonly sells around $140, and higher grade tins can edge toward $160.
Union Leader “Redi Cut” Tobacco Tin
The Union Leader “Redi Cut” tin is a familiar sight for many collectors, featuring patriotic imagery that often includes Uncle Sam and strong lettering. These tins were common in their time, which means many survive, yet high grade pieces with vivid color still stand out.
Because the brand is well known, even casual collectors recognize the design, which keeps demand steady for good examples. A clean tin with working lid and decent paint can bring around $75, and especially sharp specimens sometimes sell for close to $90.
1930’s Hi‑Plane Tobacco Tin
The Hi Plane tobacco tin from the 1930s carries striking aviation imagery that reflects the fascination with flight in that period. A plane soars across the front panel, and when the colors remain bright, it becomes a real centerpiece in a tobacciana display.
Collectors who enjoy tins with strong themes often rank Hi Plane highly because it sits at the crossroads of advertising, tobacco, and aviation history. Well preserved examples have brought around $1,100 at auction, and truly exceptional tins can climb toward $1,300 or more.
Du Maurier London Cigarettes Tin Container
The Du Maurier London cigarettes tin brings a distinctly British feel, with designs that hint at early twentieth century elegance. Many of these tins were exported, which means surviving examples outside the United Kingdom can feel a bit special to collectors.
This container appeals to those who like cigarette history along with cigarette cards and related pieces, since it fits neatly into themed displays. A strong example with crisp graphics and minimal wear often sells around $600, and particularly nice tins from scarce runs may reach higher.
Dunhill “Monte Cruz” 10 Chicos Tobacco Tin
The Dunhill “Monte Cruz” 10 Chicos tin is smaller than many old tobacco containers, designed to hold a neat selection of small cigars. Its compact size, refined branding, and ties to a respected name in tobacco history make it appealing to collectors who enjoy premium labels.
Because Dunhill has a long reputation among smokers, tins like this often draw bidders who collect both accessories and packaging. A well kept “Monte Cruz” 10 Chicos tin can sell for around $300, with very clean examples sometimes moving closer to $400.
Edgeworth Extra High Grade Pipe Tobacco Tin
Edgeworth tins often stand out with their blue backgrounds and distinctive lettering that signal a higher quality pipe mixture. Many tins were made in rectangular or pocket sizes, and some still carry traces of original tax stamps, which add another layer of interest.
Pipe tobacco collectors enjoy Edgeworth because it represents a brand that once appeared in countless homes and shops, yet the tins now feel special on a shelf. Clean examples with clear lettering and minimal rust can bring around $150, and nicer specimens may move beyond $200 when interest is strong
Stag Pocket Tobacco Tin
The Stag pocket tobacco tin is a classic vertical tin that shows a proud stag against a rich background, a look that many collectors recognize right away. Most examples date from the mid twentieth century, and many show gentle wear from years spent in pockets or on shop counters, which adds to their charm.
Collectors like this tin because it feels like a bridge between everyday working life and advertising history, especially when the colors remain strong and the lid still works smoothly. A solid example in good display condition can bring around $70 at auction, with especially clean tins sometimes reaching close to $90.
This article originally appeared on Avocadu.