Ancient pipe tobacco wrappers

Verpakkingen van kerftabak

By Don Duco

Abstract: This article describes the development of the tobacco wrapper in Holland from the earliest known examples of 1660 to the year 1900. It shows the various subjects and the different techniques that were used, generally leading from simple depictions to more elaborate illustrations of larger size. Also the use of inscriptions more than the name of the owner only comes in use. Nevertheless the ordinary simple illustrations that were born in the seventeenth century stay common till modern times. Most of the designs seem to last over longer periods; hence it is very difficult to date these simple but charming illustrations.

© Don Duco, Pijpenkabinet Foundation, Amsterdam - Holland, 2003.

Illustrations

1. Block in oak wood to shape the paper bag before being filled. Province of Gelderland, 1800-1900.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 16.944a

2. Sink instrument to fill the paper bags. Harderwijk, Tobacco factory De Olifant (The Elephant), 1850-1900.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 16.944b

3. A typicakl folded rectangular pack of tobacco showing the brand arms of Amsterdam on the front helt by the city virgin and Mercury, along the base advertisement of the goods. Amsterdam, Hermanus Oldenkott & Zoonen, 1921.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 433

4. Machine packed parcel of tobacco with sharp rims along top and bottom, brand the arms of Amsterdam. Amsterdam, Hermanus Oldenkott & Zoonen, 1930-1960.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 19.747

5. Simple tobacco bag showing a wood carving of an Indian smoking a huge tobacco pipe, in later times these type of wrappers were used for chewing tobacco. The Netherlands, 1995.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.000

6. Printing block in soft wood showing the arms of Amsterdam held by two standing lions. The Netherlands, 1750-1820.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 17.278

7. Printing block in soft wood with a detailed illustration of a standing black amor with feathers on his head and inscription "DE JONGE AMERIKAAN" (the young American), along the top a text has been erased. The Netherlands, 1775-1800.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 15.818

8. Printing block cut out of brass illustrating a standing Indian smoking a long pipe, inscription "DE ROOKENDE MOOR" (the smoking black amor), initials of the owner on the tobacco barrel. Leeuwarden, Simon Hendrik Taconis, 1780-1810.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 17.142

9. Printing block in cast lead with standing persons and tobacco wrappings. Bergen, Poulain-Devaux (1772-1950>), 1820-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 4514

10. Rubber stamp showing a tobacco plant in bloom with a text below the illustration. Lieshout, A. v.d. Boogaard, 1920-1950.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 2264

11. Detail of a till life by the painter Van Ravesteijn with a pack of tobacco.
From: Georg A. Brongers, Nicotiana Tabacum, the history of tobacco and tobacco smoking in the Netherlands, Haarlem, 1964, p 125.

12. Tobacco emblem with mark the fox on a horizon framed by bunches of tobacco leaves and in the top a tobacco roll. The Netherlands, Groningen, 1750-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.196

13. Tobacco emblem with barrel with raisins with on both sides a tobacco roll placed in an arched frame surmounted by a crown. The Netherlands, Groningen, 1800-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.006

14. Tobacco emblem with tobacco barrel wrongly depicted as a curved barrel with tobacco leaves along the top, a tobacco roll on the base in a rectangular frame with narrow corners. The Netherlands, 1800-1900.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.162

15. Tobacco emblem with two barrels, the right one with tobacco, in front to tobacco rolls, in the top two crossed tobacco rolls, the frame arched, owner's initials “IS”. The Netherlands, Groningen ?, 1750-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.071

16. Tobacco emblem showing an open canaster basket filled with tobacco rolls depicted as coat of arms and crowned, the illustration held by standing lions, along the top “De Volle Knaster” (the full basket), on the bottom text, on both sides seals. The Netherlands, 1780-1870.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.078

17. Tobacco emblem in fan light version with rectangular shape the corners smaller with in the centre a tobacco barrel, on the left a canaster basket and in the back a tea tin, on the right a snuff jar and sealed boxes in the front, along the top a ribbon with text “Het Habansvat” (the barrel of Habana), on the top open space to fill in a brand name or quality, on the bottom along the frame the initials ´J.G.M.´. The Netherlands, 1800-1860.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.305

18. Tobacco emblem in fan light version with in the centre a barrel or bag with the number “275“, on the right a tea tin with the number “2”, on the left a tobacco carrot and three sealed boxes, on the bottom out the frame an extend text. The Netherlands, Groningen, 1800-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.137

19. Tobacco emblem along a coast line some tobacco wrappers with right from the middle a tobacco barrel with leaves along the top, on the water in the back two sailing boats, the frame is derived from the Louis XV-ornaments with on an arched ribbon in the centre the text “De Koophandel”. The Netherlands, Harlingen, 1780-1880.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.091

20. Tobacco emblem with on a rectangular base in an oval the text “Alle Soorten Van Tabak, Snuif en Sigaren” (all kinds of tobacco, snuff and cigars), above the socle small plants, in the front a group of tobacco wrappers, left in the back a sailing boat. The Netherlands, 1800-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.073

21. Tobacco emblem with a standing black amor with feathers, smoking a long pipe and holding a knots in his left hand, right next to the person a large stylized tobacco plant. The Netherlands, 1700-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.156

22. Tobacco emblem showing a standing negro with turban with plume, a tobacco roll in his left hand, a tobacco barrel next to him, sockled with the text “De Rokende Moor” (the smoking black amor), placed in a standing oval. The Netherlands, 1750-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.018

23. Tobacco emblem in a standing oval a smoking negro slave with feather hat and long pipe standing next to a tobacco barrel, along the base “De Rookende Amerikaan” (the smoking American), below name and address of the owner. The Netherlands, 1830-1900.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.171

24. Tobacco emblem on a simple base three standing negro persons, the one in the middle with feather hat, between them a small tobacco plant, on both ends a standing tobacco roll, along the base “In De Drie Slaven” (in the three slaves). The Netherlands, 1720-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.065

25. Tobacco emblem three standing tobacco dealers on a base line, on both ends a standing tobacco roll on which the initials “RS”, below under the emblem “De drie Marijlanders” (the three Marylanders). The Netherlands, Groningen, R. Smith, 1780-1860.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.057

26. Tobacco emblem showing two negro slaves standing near tobacco barrels in a circular medallion against a vertical field, along the top “De Twee Mooren”, along the bottom the name of the owner including a field with the address. The Netherlands, Harlingen, 1800-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.150

27. Tobacco emblem in a rectangular field two standing tobacco dealers wearing hats, a tobacco barrel far right, sailing boats on the horizon line, on a ribbon along the top “De 3 Tabaks Handelaars” (the three tobacco merchants), below the figures a text. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1750-1830.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.124

28. Tobacco emblem in a square with accentuated corners two tobacco dealers near a barrel, a ship on a horizon line on the right, tobacco wrappers in both corners, on a ribbon the text “de Tabaks Handelaars”, below an extend address The Netherlands, Amsterdam. 1780-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.126

29. Tobacco emblem with next to a large tobacco barrel a standing merchant on the right and a smoking moor on the left, a tobacco roll in the arm, on the horizon line on both sides a sailing boat, along the base the inscription “De Handelaars” (the merchants) and more text. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1760-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.090

30. Tobacco emblem with in a standing oval from the front a standing tobacco merchant, a bunch of tobacco leaves in his right hand, on both sides tobacco wrappers, the oval covered with leaves and a ribbon on the top, inscription “De tabaksplanter” (the tobacco planters), below “Krultabak” and more text. The Netherlands, Groningen, 1820-1880.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.151

31. Tobacco emblem with in an oval right from the middle two persons, in the background a mountain, along the base in a text frame “De Tabakshandel” (the tobacco trade) and under that a compartment with a rectangular text frame in which “J.R. Schroder”. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Schroder, 1800-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.068

32. Tobacco emblem with in a rectangular frame a sitting Mercury with winged hat and snake staff sitting on a tea crate, a barrel to the right with “Tabak”, on the utter left a coffee barrel and a sack, on an arched ribbon along the top “D´Oude Koophandel” (the ancient merchandise), The Netherlands, Groningen, De Jonge Hoogland, 1800-1860.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.041

33. Tobacco emblem with in a rectangular frame with ia standing Mercury with snake staff, on a ribbon along the top “Amsterdam” and the crowned city arms of Amsterdam, along the base in a lying oval the name of the merchant and his address, above, outside the printing block “Halfcnasser". The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Eberstein, 1780-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.082

34. Tobacco emblem with in a fashionable framing of c-volutes a flying bird, below on the right a sitting Neptune as God of the seas with a barrel from which a source flows, on the left four young children with some barrels, along the base in a cartouche “Amsterdamse Tabaksfabric van C.E. Jordan”. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1755-1765.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.003

35. Tobacco emblem with in a rectangular with arched top a standing Esperanza surrounded by tobacco wrappers, under the illustration “In de Hoop” (in the good fortune) and below the owners name and address. The Netherlands, Haarlem, Broekmeijer, 1850-1910.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.158

36. Tobacco emblem with in a rectangular frame a man on horseback directed to the left, in the utter left a standing tobacco roll, above “No. Portorico”, under the illustration the text “Willem Steyn, Amsterdam”. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1820-1860.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.016a

37. Tobacco emblem with in a rectangular with top border derived from the Louis quinze style a standing fisherman with harpoon on his shoulder, a big fish in his left hand, to the left a large tobacco barrel, behind a snuff jar, on the right a small tobacco barrel, along the front base “De Visscher” (the fisherman), on the top outside the block “Tabak”, below inscriptions. The Netherlands, Lemmer, Visscher, Brandsma, 1800-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.212

38. Tobacco emblem with in a circular medallion directed to the left a standing hunter with rifle, a dog in front of him, lower inscription “De Jager” (the hunter) and more text in a rectangular framing in a double hatched frame. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1810-1860.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.280

39. Tobacco emblem with a standing hunter with rifle in the air, ornamental framing in which a ribbon with inscription “Havana, Java, Manilla, Rencurei”, along the bottom “Het Wildschut”, and lower the owners name. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, J.P. Schalekamp, 1820-1880.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.056

40. Tobacco emblem with two standing smokers with long German pipes with oval porcelains bowls, on the table between them a tobacco box, a text under the framing. The Netherlands, Leiden, 1810-1830.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 26.554

41. Tobacco emblem with in a rectangular frame a smoking Black Amor sitting on an elephant, on the top in the corners the initials “IL”, on the bottom line two stylized plants, below the frame a text. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Johannes L…zoon. 1750-1800.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.001

42. Tobacco emblem with in the centre in an oval a standing lamb, a tobacco barrel on the utter right, left on the horizon the view on a village, under the picture the text “Wed. Johs. Meursinge en Zoon”, The Netherlands, Meppel. 1800-1880.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.170

43. Tobacco emblem with in a rectangular frame from c-volutes tobacco barrels and other tobacco wrappers, on the top in a circular frame a lamb of sheep, at the base under the illustration the name of the owner. The Netherlands, Sneek, D.E. de Jong, 1800-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.153

44. Tobacco emblem showing the arms of the town of Haarlem with on the right side a primitive shadow. The Netherlands, Haarlem, 1750-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.181

45. Tobacco emblem showing the crowned shield of the city of Amsterdam between two thin branches, on the sides a coffee barrel on the left and a tobacco barrel on the right and other wrappers, on the base the owner's initials “LRD”. The Netherlands,
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.176

46. Tobacco emblem with arms of Amsterdam surmounted by an emperor's crown and held by two standing lions, text under the image. The Netherlands, Kampen, J.G. van Riemsdijk, 1750-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.193

47. Tobacco emblem with arms of Amsterdam surmounted by an emperors' crown held by two standing lions in Louis XV style, text on the base with branch with leaves and Orange apples. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Hermanus Oldenkott & Zonen, 1760-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.357

48. Tobacco emblem with heraldic decoration with on the shield a tower and the initials AT of the owner, in the frame a helmet and draperies, above a crown. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Abraham Toorenburgh, 1750-1820.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.377

49. Tobacco emblem showing the arms of the king of England held by a standing lion and a standing unicorn, on the ribbon “London”, below a lambrequin on which a view on the city of London, lower half text. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1840-1880.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.270

50. Tobacco emblem met still life of tobacco packeages with in the abck water and a sailing boat, on the horizon view of a town, above a ribbon with inscription “Cnasser” broken by a circular medallion with the arms of Rotterdam and the inscription “T Wapen van Rotterdam”, below text. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, De Koning, 1780-1820.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 26.029

51. Tobacco emblem showing an exhibition of tobacco wrappers with a sea with sailing boat, in the air in a frame of fine leaves the arms of Holland with on a ribbon “Het Wapen van Holland”, below name and address. The Netherlands, Alkmaar, 1820-1880.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.179

52. Tobacco emblem with in an oval a ribbon with “Het Wapen van Texel” showing the arms of Texel, along the base on a flat sockle with plain frontline tobacco wrappings, below name and address. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, J.B. Levelt, 1800-1860.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.025

53. Tobacco emblem with in a lying oval the arms of West-Frisia helt by two standing lions, the frame crowned by a snake staff and en drietand, along the front on the sockle an exhibition of tobacco wrappings and on the front in a rectangular the address. The Netherlands, Leeuwarden, M.J. Gijswijk, 1790-1850.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.183

54. Tobacco emblem with in a rectangular in the centre a lying oval with three initials framed by scrolls and a small negro head in the top, along the base tobacco rolls and a square tobacco basket , on both sides space for writing the quality of the goods, the cipher to be filled by hand, below inscription “Becker & Zoon & Everts”. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1740-1760.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.044

55. Tobacco emblem in a rectangular in the centre the initials “BVG” surrounded by a symmetrical cartouche of small leaves, along the base a rectangular tobacco basket and a pile of tobacco rolls, below the name and address. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Becker & Van Goor, 1760-1780.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.053

56. Tobacco emblem with the town hall of Amsterdam including the qualification “N1” (number 1), along the top “Het Amsterdamse Stadhuis”, below advertisement of the goods and the address. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Hendrik Wiens, 1800-1830,
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.012

57. Tobacco emblem with the palace on Dam square in Amsterdam in a arched frame with inscription “Koninklyk Paleis van Amsterdam” (the royal palace of Amsterdam), on the base a snuff tobacco jar and a table tobacco jar, below name and address of the merchant. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, D. van der Linden Vooren, 1820-1860.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.221

58. Tobacco emblem showing the fortification of the town of Leiden with in the front tobacco product being exhibited, along the top “De Burch te Leyden” and on a plain ribbon space for a brand or type name, at the base under the illustration the name and address of the shop keeper. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Jan Dionys van der Burgh, 1750-1800.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.108

59. Tobacco emblem with the facade of the hunting house The Loo, along the base “Het Koningsloo” (The Royal Loo palace), below advertisement for tobacco. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Wilhelmus Hendrikus van Olden, 1750-1800.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.034

60. Tobacco emblem with the illustrations of the weigh building on the butter market in Amsterdam, on the ribbon along the top “De Regulierswaag”, in the front tobacco wrappers, along the base the address. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Willem van Haarst Junior, 1830-1870.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.308

61. Tobacco emblem with in a standing oval the port view of Amsterdam including the bell towers, on the water of the IJ-sea sailing boats, in the corners tobacco packages and a ribbon with “De Stad Amsterdam” (the town of Amsterdam), along the base the address of the merchant. The Netherlands, Workum, Carel Troste en Zoon, 1780-1840.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.129

62. Tobacco emblem with in a frame in the top the brand horse below a ribbon with “T Bonte Paard” (the mottled horse), the main subject is a sea view with sailing boats, on the coast far away a town, in the front tobacco packages, below an extend inscription with the advertisement of the goods, name and address. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, H. Weyland Junior, 1770-1820.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.064

63. Tobacco emblem in the top in an oval the brand sitting fox, in the centre in a rectangular field ships in a port with mountains in the back, baskets, tobacco rolls and other tobacco packings on the front, below in an lying oval the address. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Henricus Oldenkott & Comp., 1780-1820.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.097

64. Tobacco emblem with sailing boat with three masts in full sail on the waves, under the illustration “Het Scheepje” (the little ship) and the name, address and the goods sold in the shop of the owner. The Netherlands, Amsterdam, G.A.F. Twenhafel, 1800-1880.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 25.146

Notes

1. Georg A. Brongers, Nicotiana Tabacum, The history of tobacco and tobacco smoking in the Netherlands, Haarlem, 1964, p. 125.

2. J. van Lennep & J. ter Gouw, De Uithangteekens, in verband met Geschiedenis en Volksleven beschouwd, Amsterdam, 1868, volume II, p. 146. “en nog voor weinig jaren had een kruidenier, in de Peperstraat te Groningen, de Drie Marylanders uithangen”.

3. Ibidem, p 323. “Aan een tabakswinkel op den Buitenkant tusschen de Bantammerstraat en de Kraansluis hing in de vorige eeuw de Witte Oliphant uit; op den rug van ’t beest zat een moriaan, die rookte uit een pijp met een dopje!”.

4. The text says: “Deze opregte …onne tabak is t… by Johannis Lubelink en zoon Op .ytekand, van … N….Eyland, T…de Kraen-…, en bantemer-stra(at) De Witte Oliphant, Tot Amster(dam)”.