“Tobacco Labels Collection”: A digital collection from the Library of Virginia

 

“Golden Eagle : manufactured by T.C. Williams Co., Virginia, U.S.A.” ca. 1876-1890?

 

The Library of Virginia provides access to digitized historic documents, art, photographs, newspapers and more on their “Virginia Memory” website. These online collections cover a variety of different topics, time periods, and areas across Virginia. A collection pertaining to the Greater Richmond Region is the “Tobacco Labels Collection”, which includes almost one hundred colorful lithographs from the late-19th and early-20th centuries. 

“The Tobacco Labels Collection contains 92 original color lithographs. The labels were created to adorn the wooden boxes used to ship tobacco from the various tobacco factories in Richmond and Petersburg during the years of 1876 to 1899. The subject matter in the lithographs features American, as well as, British Imperial history. A sample of the tobacco factories featured include: Watson & McGill, A. Hoen & Co., British American Tobacco Company, T.C. Williams Co., and David Dunlop.” [Description from the collection webpage]

 

The collection page allows the user to search for, filter, and pin images. Image descriptions detail the text on the label, estimated date(s), publisher, and the tobacco company. Most of the collection centers around the themes of American and British imperial history, with many of these lithographs featuring depictions of women, animals, mythology, and famous figures. Here are some of the images from the collection:

 

“Wake Up! El Gallo: manufactured by Maclin-Zimmer-McGill Tobacco Co., Inc. Petersburg (successor to Moore & Calvi) Virginia, U.S.A.” 1868

 

 

“The American Tobacco Co., successor to P.H. Mayo & Brother, Incorporated, U.S. Navy Tobacco Works, of Richmond, Virginia” ca. 1902

 

 

 

 “Britannia: manufactured by Watson & McGill, Petersburg, Va.” ca. 1880-1889?

 

 

“Dash: Richmond VA” ca. 1876-1890?

 

For more vintage tobacco label prints, visit the Library of Congress’ “Tobacco Label Collection” in their Prints & Photographs Online Catalog.

 - Gabrielle Dietrich, VCU undergraduate majoring in International Studies and French with a minor in History. She graduates in the Spring of 2024