Summary
Phar Lap Tobacco tin produced by the Myona Cigar Company of Richmond, Victoria during 1931-1932. The company was only in operation for around 18 months, so examples of its tins are very hard to locate, particularly in good condition. Like most of the Phar Lap merchandise produced at this time, it was done so without permission from the horse's owners.
Physical Description
Rectangular metal tin with a hinged lid. On the lid is lithographed a image of a horse's head, as well as information about the original contents and the manufacturer.
Significance
This Phar Lap tobacco tin, produced in Melbourne by the Myona Cigar Company, is considered Australia's most desirable tobacco tin due to its rarity (the company was only in existence for 18 months) and popular subject matter. It is an early example of the use of the name and image of an Australian celebrity to sell an unrelated product - in the days before licensing was an issue. It's short production run may have had something to do with it's quality - a consumer was later quoted as saying it tasted like `toasted manure'.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Manufacturer
Myona Cigar Co., Richmond, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1931-1932
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Horse Depicted
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Inscriptions
Printed on lid of tin: MYONA CIGAR COMPANY / RICHMOND / PHAR LAP / FINE CUT / TOBACCO.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
110 mm (Width), 83 mm (Depth), 20 mm (Height)
Dimensions for object sitting flat on a surface.
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Maximum dimensions
110 mm (Width), 83 mm (Depth), 22 mm (Height)
Measurement From Conservation. Dimensions for object sitting flat on a surface.
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Keywords
Advertising, Horse Racing, Smoking, Making History - Phar Lap
