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Antique Vanderveer & Holmes Biscuit Co. \"Water Thin Wafers\" Lithographed Tin
Rare Pre-1898 New York City Advertising Ephemera
Up for sale is a late 19th-century antique lithographed paper-on-tin bulk biscuit box from the Vanderveer & Holmes Biscuit Co. (New York, NY). This rare piece features a detailed Victorian top label of a family rowing a boat named \"Daisy,\" alongside four distinct side vignettes depicting late-1800s agricultural harvesting, a hand-sower, and a water mill. The bottom features a deeply embossed company maker\'s mark.
Approximate Dimensions
Length: 8.5 inches
Width: 6 inches
Height: 3 inches
Weight: 11.5 ounces
Historical Note for Collectors
The short side panel features a charming, authentic 19th-century handwritten ink inscription that reads \"Open for use.\" In the late 1800s, bulk biscuit tins like this were shipped directly to general stores. A shopkeeper or clerk would typically write this on the label once the factory seal was broken to signal to staff that this was the active display box being sold from, preventing them from opening fresh backstock. It adds incredible, genuine social history to the piece!
Condition Summary
This tin is sold in authentic, as-found antique condition with excellent shelf appeal. The lithographed top label remains vibrant despite minor paper loss, edge scuffs, and foxing, and features a unique, authentic period ink inscription reading \"Open for use\" on the sower side panel. Structurally sound, the heavy-gauge box opens and closes fully, though the interior floor and exterior base show honest, expected age-related oxidation and surface rust with no holes.
Don\'t miss your chance to own a truly unique piece of 19th-century New York advertising history that will make a standout addition to any Americana or country store collection!
