Rich's Patent Brass Honesty Tobacco Box
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
mid-19th century
This mid-19th century "Rich's Patent" honesty tobacco box is constructed of brass and designed with a specialized mechanism for self-service. The box features a hinged lid and a carrying handle on top, intended for portability by travelers.
A defining technical feature is the integrated coin slot, which allows the box to be unlocked by the user. Upon insertion of a coin, the mechanism enables the opening of the container to dispense a pipe's worth of tobacco, a common convenience in public or tavern settings of the era. The exterior is simple and utilitarian in appearance, elevated on ball-shaped feet to provide stability. The piece is clearly marked with an inscription identifying it as "Rich's Patent."
The overall dimensions of the box are approximately 7 inches in height, 9-1/4 inches in width, and 4-3/4 inches in depth.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Depth
- 4-3/4 inches
- Width
- 9-1/4 inches
- Height
- 7 inches
- Material
- brass
Technical characteristics
- Function
- dispensing tobacco
- Mechanism
- coin-operated
Design
- Features
- carrying handle, coin slot, ball feet
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Rich's
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.