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Tin Types

Collectible Tin

t the start of the 19th century, there are not many Tin Ceiling Tiles on the Rise
Frenchman Philippe de Girard that have survived Many of the world’s most beautiful homes,
Acreated a process to make boxes from the initial theaters, businesses, and opera houses have
and cans using tin. However, it was British years of produc- ornate plaster
merchant Peter Durand who was the agent tion. Prices for 3-dimensional
that patented Girard’s idea in 1810. rare tins can designs on the
But what about all the beautiful printing run as high as ceilings. As their
on tin items? According to an article written $2,000+. patrons gazed
by the Association of European Printing In the early-to- about their sur-
Museums, “Tin-printing … has remained mid 20th century, roundings, many
under the radar of printing museums. purchasing con- This unusual and early con- would see these The ceiling at Versailles
Exhibitions devoted to the subject are few doms remained dom tin, embossed “Disease features as a sign
and far between, and few printing museums secretive. When Preventors Only,” sold at of opulence and style. According to a blog at
have significant collections of tin-printing.” buying them for Morford Antiques for $55. www.johncanningco.com, it began during the
And yet within the realm of collecting, Baroque period (1600-1830), when
colorful lithographed tin items and tins a pharmacy, the “Symmetry, scale, and geometric arraignment
drive many collectors out to buy more. Here pharmacist would gave way and soon fluid, vibrant, and
are a few collectible items that are among order “100 Trojan asymmetri-
the more colorful and useful. Pencils number 2” cal designs
and the manufac- started to
turer would know take shape.”
Condom Tins to Prevent Disease
what that meant. Many of the
Important and FYI, the Eberhard plaster
extremely rare early tin Faber company, accents were
litho condom tin for founded in New used to
Three Dukes brand An antique round Carmen York City in 1861, frame a fres-
featuring an enchanted condom tin circa 1920s did make Trojan
black and white image #2 pencils. co, blend
of castles in the clouds. the heavens

This tin sold for Scarce, early tin with other

$1,840 at Morford litho condom tin Pressed tin ceiling panel, $65 online art and

Auctions for Akron Rubber decor back on the lower levels, and sometimes
Supply Co.’s Akron were busts of the reigning patriarchs of the

According to slah.us, “It’s only been within Tourist Tubes

the last 35 years that condom tins have been condoms, featuring day or those who funded the grand facade.

They were painted, gilt, and incredibly ornate.
collected to any degree but the condom has a great image of its

been around for nearly 3,000 years. The first trademark blimp. Here in the U.S., there is a bit of a renaissance

reports of their usage were by the Egyptians as Sold for $1,925 taking place with decorative plaster being

far back as 1,000 B.C. Some feel though that at auction. added to living space once again according to
it was the Roman soldier’s desire to avoid the a recent article in The New York Times.
‘Mount Vesuvius Rash’ that started it all.” Left, a early tin litho con- According
As for the tins made to contain condoms, dom tin for Aristocrat to www.tin-
they were first made in the early 1800s. A brand, featuring multi- ceiling.com,
reviewer of the book Remember Your Rubbers! color graphic image of its “Tin ceilings
Collectible Condom Containers with Values, trademark bird. Sold for were first
written in 1998, states that “Turning the $412.50 at auction. manufac -
pages, brands are listed in alphabetical order, photo: Morford Auctions tured and
reveals not only the great variety, but further sold in North
information. The reader should carefully read Tins for the ladies – “Health Sponges” America in
the added notes provided; they’re both have been in use for contraceptive purposes the mid- 4’ oblong tin featuring Griffins selling for
$410 at Peoria Architectural Salvage
informative and highly interesting.” for centuries. The more 1800s, as a
Because people were somewhat embar- more affordable option to emulate the look
rassed to keep the tins to store smaller items, modern forms of the and elegance of the ornate plasterwork that
contraceptive sponge was popular in Europe at the time. … The use
Circa 1930s Peacock condom were popularized in of tin ceilings really developed in the mid-
tin. Among the more expensive the West during the nineteenth century, when mass-produced
condoms sold during the early birth control move- sheets of thin rolled tin-plated steel became
to mid-twentieth century, ment of the early readily available in America and reached the
Peacock condoms were sold twentieth century. zenith of their popularity in the late 1800s to
primarily in drug stores. Sold The tin at right is
for $60 at an online auction. early 1900s. As a result, many old buildings
circa 1910.

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