I hope to someday post the history of tin box manufacture in the United States, including histories of Somers Bros, Isley, Ginna, Vogel, Norton Bros., Tindeco, American Can Co., etc., but it remains low in current priorities. If you are a tin collector knowledgeable about tin history with an ability to write, I’d be happy to share extensive files and photos with you so those histories can be uploaded sooner.
 
    Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, a selection of 19th century tins is presented, starting with a box made only 7 years after tin was legalized in 1870:
TIN BOXES 1870 - 1900
A National Cigar Museum Exhibit
© Tony Hyman
Hand-soldered tin box with printed edging, latch, wooden bottom, ventilation holes and a paper inner label.  Shipped March 1877 by Sutro & Newmark, one of the NY City giants with 300+ rollers.
[2206]
Pictures Tilden, loser in 1876, supported by Irish and Hayes pushed by blacks. See the Exhibit of Election boxes for more information about this.
[2207]
Some tin boxes made 1870-1880 had wood bottoms  providing place for ID, color mark and Caution Notice. March 8, 1877 cancellation makes this the earliest accurately dated tin box I’ve seen.
[2208]
1877 patent for providing ventilation in tin boxes
so that cigars packed moist don’t rot. Also removes “the objectionable appearance there is to the common sheet tin cigar boxes” and provides
wooden bottom for application of the ID.  [5249]
Despite the patent and all the efforts to lithograph on tin, the “objectionable appearance” of sheet tin cigar boxes remained common in 1887. The ID is hand die stamped into the lower right corner of the lid.
[10985]
Lee H. Stump of Avon, Illinois, used his name as a design theme. Paper label in an all tin box. Fact. 124, 8th Dist. Ill, had 5 rollers during peak months.
[10982]
Hand soldered Dutch cigar box probably from early 1880’s depicting two negro youth smokers with the flag as background, perhaps celebrating the end of slavery. The brand NEGERTIES lasted for decades.
[2935]
Thos. H. Hall’s BETWEEN THE ACTS “all-tobacco cigarettes” were sold in tin 10/5 boxes long before legal by packing them in larger boxes of 100 or 200 upon which tax stamps could be affixed.
[8567]
What could be more logical than picturing an actress on BETWEEN THE ACTS?  Entertainers like Minnie Cummings have been featured on cigar labels since Fanny Elssler graced a Cuban label in the 1840’s.
That’s a 5¢ coin to show size. [8565]
This exquisite Ginna tin demonstrates how fine tin boxes were in the 1880’s. ID and Caution Notice was not required as it wasn’t a box allowed by law. All Tobacco cigarettes was a euphemism for cigars.
Curator’s favorite   [8566]
Large tobacco-bale shaped tin box patented 1875 used in 1894 by S. Jacoby Fact. 3, 3rd NY City.
Tin boxes of 250 are very rare, especially in fine condition. Box measures 9” x 8” x 4.5”
[2926]
Decorated bottoms are typical of early tin boxes.
High quality tin made by Somers Bros.
[2927]
Finely detailed 3-color printing job by Isley & Co., NYC, on this 50/13 tin for Steinecke & Kerr Fact. 120, 3rd NY City in 1888.  An exquisite box.
[2916]
Lengthy explanation about why the company
chose to pack in tin boxes.
[2919]
Mind-blowing example of 19th century cigar box design by an unknown tin company, c1895, for Haas Bros. Cigar Co. in Cincinnati, a major cigar center.
[2217]
Multi-color printed inside label in classic 1870’s style in perfect condition. The tin printers of the 19th century were exceptionally good.
[2918]
Cigar giant Straiton & Storm began using these charming tin boxes of 25 around 1890. At least a half dozen different brands were packed this way.
S & S created ROBT. BURNS and OWL brands
and eventually became General Cigar Co.  [3106]
Sadly, the reds and blues on these tins are very subject to sun damage. One hour outdoors can be sufficient to ruin the original color. They were never printed in pink and grey.
[9272]
These lovely tin 25’s are found with paper label inners and with lithographed interiors. There
appear to be a number of variations of both, generally involving young girls.
[3592]
Factory 11, 3rd District of New York (Central and lower Manhattan) was the main factory of Straiton & Storm, employers of 1,000+ people, including labor leader Samuel Gompers. Standard 1880-1957 Caution Notice. [3593]
Unusual box of 25 jumbo-size 11” long cigars.
Oversize novelty cigars were taxed as tobacco,
a tax law still in effect in the 1950’s. Cigars laid
crossways, side to side, in the box.
[2915]
Cigars by Detroit Cigar Mfg. Co., Factory 2, 1st MI located at 48 E. Congress. Made for local retailer.
Rare tin by Norton Bros. Press, Chicago.
[2921]
The Cation Notice refers to the “tobacco herein contained” rather than cigars, proof they were
oversize novelties.
[2920]
Distinctive, but not especially attractive, box
with no less than  six slogans!  
Fact. 145, 8th Illinois.  c1900
[2938]
Stickers of any type are dangerous on early tin.
[2937]
The stamp did a near perfect job of lifting the ink.
Ink adhesion was the printer’s greatest difficulty.
[2936]
Unusual lithographed slip-cover for cardboard boxes
of 10 small cigars. If you have an ad showing how these were obtained by smokers please
contact me via the NCM.
[8860]
Some of the world’s finest tin cigar boxes come from the Netherlands, 19th century center of European cigar production. You’ll enjoy the exhibits of
Dutch tin.
[2925]
Construction detail of 1880’s tin box. Joints slid together very sturdily. Over-engineered.
[3091]