1947 Tuxedo Tobacco 12-Tin Case — 11 Unopened Tax-Stamped Tins — Pipe Appeal Featured

Offered here is a remarkable surviving 1947 Tuxedo Tobacco 12-tin case, complete with its original case box, 11 unopened tax-stamped tins, and the opened example featured on Pipe Appeal.

Pipe Appeal video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQjyFgUvQBo

This is the sort of tobacco find that looks as though it just came off the tobacco delivery truck at the back door of an old neighborhood drugstore. A full postwar case of 1 1/2 oz Tuxedo pocket tins, packed together in 1947, ready for the counter beside the newspapers, shaving soap, candy bars, and small tobacco tins that once filled everyday American life.

The tins carry the familiar green-and-gold Tuxedo design, the well-dressed gentleman at center, and the old promise that made the brand famous:

“Specially Prepared for Pipe or Cigarette.”

Tuxedo was one of the great everyday American tobacco names of the early 20th century. Made by The American Tobacco Company, it was advertised for decades as “The Perfect Tobacco for Pipe and Cigarette.” Its appeal was built around freshness, fragrance, mildness, and dependable quality rather than luxury or mystery.

The old Tuxedo advertisements had a wonderful confidence to them:

“Men who know values quickly appreciate quality.”
“I love the fragrance of good pipe tobacco.”
“It’s good and fragrant, and always fresh.”

And, most famously:

“Your Nose Knows.”

That slogan was at the heart of the Tuxedo sales pitch. Period ads invited smokers to rub a little Tuxedo between the palms of the hands, bring out the aroma, and let the fragrance tell the story. Tuxedo was sold as a tobacco whose character could be judged by the nose before it ever met a match.

The blend itself was part of that story. Period American Tobacco Company advertising described Tuxedo as a Burley-based tobacco. One early ad called it “the original granulated Burley Tobacco,” while another described it as being made from carefully aged and blended Burley. That same advertising also gives a particularly charming detail about the old casing: Tuxedo was said to use chocolate flavoring added to the aged Burley base.

That does not mean this should be thought of as a heavy modern aromatic. Tuxedo belonged to an earlier American tradition: a mild, fragrant, lightly sweetened Burley mixture made for everyday use, suitable for either pipe or cigarette. The chocolate note was part of the old-fashioned aroma and casing story, not a modern dessert-style topping.

This exact case was featured on the Pipe Appeal channel, where I opened one tin on video to give viewers a rare look inside a sealed postwar Tuxedo tin. After filming, the original loose tobacco was carefully placed back into that same tin. The remaining 11 tins are unopened, full, and still retain their unbroken Series 117 tax stamps.

The tins originally had cellophane wrappers, which were removed for filming and photography. All 12 tins are still full.

The group presents beautifully as a matched postwar case: green Tuxedo tins, silver tax stamps, the original case box, and the unmistakable look of a 1940s tobacco counter. These are honest 1947 survivors rather than mint display pieces, and each tin shows age in its own way, with surface spotting, patina, finish wear, and handling wear visible in the photos. Even so, the overall display is excellent, especially with 11 unopened tax-stamped tins and the original box.

Please review the photos closely, as they show the tins and case as offered. This lot is sold as a vintage collectible tobacco item, with all contents and condition as shown and described.

Details

-Brand: Tuxedo Tobacco
-Maker: The American Tobacco Company
-Date: 1947
-Format: 12-tin case
-Tin size: 1 1/2 oz each
-Quantity: 12 tins total
-Total original tobacco weight: 18 oz
-Unopened tins: 11
-Opened tin: 1, opened on Pipe Appeal and refilled with its original tobacco after filming
-Tobacco type: Period advertising described Tuxedo as a Burley-based tobacco
-Flavoring: Period advertising referenced chocolate flavoring added to the Burley base
-Tax stamps: Series 117 tax stamps, unbroken on the 11 unopened tins
-Original case box: Included
-Cellophane wrappers: Removed for filming and photography, not included
-Condition: All tins show age-related surface wear, with varying degrees of spotting, patina, oxidation, surface rust, and finish wear
-Featured on: Pipe Appeal YouTube channel
-Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQjyFgUvQBo

This auction contains tobacco.  If you live in certain states, you will be unable to purchase this product.