Tobacco Tin FAAM Rood Merk, Louis Dobbelmann Rotterdam, ca. 1910-1920

An authentic Dutch tobacco tin of the FAAM brand, issued by Louis Dobbelmann in Rotterdam, dating from around 1910-1920. The rectangular tin with hinged lid was intended for light aromatic pipe tobacco and bears the distinctive Rood Merk design in a bold red and cream colour scheme. The front displays the brand name FAAM in capitals, the description "Lichte Geurige Rooktabak" and the inscription "Louis Dobbelmann Rotterdam". The side panels depict a smoking gentleman, a classic marketing motif of the period. The hinged lid functions well. The interior is unlined, as was customary for this type of tobacco tin.

The wear, discolouration and signs of use are consistent with age and use and contribute to the authenticity of the piece. Louis Dobbelmann was one of the better-known Rotterdam tobacco merchants of the early twentieth century, active in a city then at the height of its significance as an international commercial metropolis. The typography and graphic elements on this tin are characteristic of early Dutch commercial printing, in which graphic boldness and commercial message were deliberately combined.