Redskin Brand Chewing Tobacco Spittoon Value Guide

This antique brass spittoon is a significant piece of American tobacco history, serving as a promotional item for the Redskin Brand Chewing Tobacco between 1890 and 1920. These cuspidors were once essential fixtures in U.S. saloons and general stores, featuring the brand's era-specific, albeit problematic, Indigenous imagery to drive customer loyalty.

What Is Redskin Brand Chewing Tobacco Spittoon Worth?

The typical price range for Redskin Brand Chewing Tobacco Spittoon is $75 - $125 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The clarity and preservation of the Redskin Brand advertising logo significantly impact the market price.
• Condition of the brass, including the presence of original patina versus over-polishing which can decrease collector interest.
• Structural integrity, specifically looking for major dents or cracks in the metal that occurred during its use in high-traffic areas.
• Historical provenance or evidence that the piece was an original promotional item provided to businesses by the tobacco company.

How to Identify Redskin Brand Chewing Tobacco Spittoon?

• Verify the presence of the Redskin Brand logo, typically featuring a depiction of an Indigenous person etched or embossed into the brass.
• Check for authentic late 19th to early 20th-century construction, characterized by heavy-gauge brass and a weighted base for stability.
• Look for signs of genuine age-related patina and wear consistent with a functional item used in public spaces like saloons.
• Examine the rim and neck for a flared 'cuspidor' shape designed specifically for tobacco use rather than general decorative purposes.

History of Redskin Brand Chewing Tobacco Spittoon

Spittoons, also known as cuspidors, were common fixtures in public and private spaces during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They served as receptacles for spit, particularly from chewing tobacco users. The Redskin Brand, with its depiction of an Indigenous person, was a popular chewing tobacco, reflecting the common and problematic use of such imagery in American advertising during that era. These spittoons were often provided by tobacco companies to businesses such as saloons and general stores as promotional items.