Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tobacco
Growing
Tobacco
The Tobacco Plant
18th Century
(Private Collection)
Nicotiana Tabacum, from an Album (Vol.VII, 1); Tobacco. 1780
Drawn by Mary Delany
(The British Museum)
Nicotiana Rustica, from an Album (Vol.X, 47); Green Tobacco.
Drawn by Mary Delany 1782
(The British Museum)
“Slaves Working in 17th Century Virginia”
by Anonymous c. 1670
(Private Collection)
A View of a Tobacco Plantation in the West Indies
1685
(Private Collection)
“FABRIQUE DU TABAC.”
Mid 18th Century
(Wellcome Library)
Scottish Tobacco Lord, John Glassford, and Family,
by Archibald McLauchlan c. Mid 18th Century
(Glasgow Museums)
“A Surinam Planter in His Morning Dress”
c. 1772 - 1777
(Blake Archives)
“A Surinam Planter in His Morning Dress”
c. 1793
(The British Museum)
Recreated Tobacco Barn at the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation at Historic St. Mary’s City, Maryland
17th Century
(Historic St. Mary)
Tobacco Barn
18th Century
(National Colonial Farm)
Tobacco Barn
18th Century
(Private Collection)
“The Natural History of Coffee, Thee, Chocolate, Tobacco. …”
by John Chamberlayne 1684
(N.I.H. U.S. National Library of Medicine)
“A Treatise on Tobacco, Tea, Coffee, and Chocolate, …”
by Simon Paulli 1746
(N.I.H. U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Manufacturing
Tobacco
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Agricultural and Rural Economy - Tobacco Manufacture
Denis Diderot 1762
(University of Michigan)
Twist Tobacco
(Reproduction)
Dutch Tobacco Shop
18th Century
(Private Collection)
Chinese Tobacco Cutter Print Made for the European Market
c. 1790
(Victoria & Albert)
Shipping Tobacco
The Hogshead
“A TOBACCO PLANTATION”
18th Century
(Private Collection)
“A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland with part
of Pensilvania, New Jersey and North Carolina. Drawn by Joshua Fry & Peter Jefferson in 1751”
Showing Hogsheads of Tobacco Being Inspected & Shipped
(Library of Congress)
“A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland with part
of Pensilvania, New Jersey and North Carolina. Drawn by Joshua Fry & Peter Jefferson in 1751”
Showing Hogsheads of Tobacco Being Inspected & Shipped
(Library of Congress)
“A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland with part
of Pensilvania, New Jersey and North Carolina. Drawn by Joshua Fry & Peter Jefferson in 1751”
Showing Hogsheads of Tobacco Being Inspected & Shipped
(Library of Virginia)
“A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland with part
of Pensilvania, New Jersey and North Carolina. Drawn by Joshua Fry & Peter Jefferson in 1751”
Showing Hogsheads of Tobacco Being Inspected & Shipped
(Library of Virginia)
“Representation of a Tent Boat, or Plantation Barge”
c. 1772 - 1777
(Private Collection)
Advertisement
Virginia Gazette, September 1, 1774
(Private Collection)
1975 Built Model of the Tobacco Ship “Brilliant”
Departed for Liverpool, England in the Summer of 1775
The Last of Its Kind to Sail Upon the Outbreak of Hostilities
Re-Rigged as a Ship of War for the British Navy in 1776
(National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institute)
Advertisement
Virginia Gazette, June 10, 1775
(Private Collection)
“THE COMMISSIONERS”
by M Darly 1778
(The British Museum)
“EXCISE IN TRIUMPH” / “Excise on a Hogshead of Tobacco”
Satire on the Excise Bill, 1733
(The British Museum)
“The Noble Stand: Or the Glorious CCIIII Sacred to their Immortal Honour down to the latest Posterity”
Satire on the Defeat of the Excise Bill 1733
(The British Museum)
Fan: Satire on the Excise Bill of 1733
c. 1733
(The British Museum)
“THE LONDON MERCHANT’S TRIUMPH”
1733
(The British Museum)
“Crying Wine and & Tobacco Forever”
Tapers
for
Lighting
“Pricks” of Tobacco can be documented for use on board sailing vessels of the 18th and early 19th
Century. In the 19th Century, they were also referred to as “Carrots” of Tobacco.
A “Prick” consisted of overlapping tobacco leaves laid upon a square sheet of linen cloth. Piled
higher in the middle than at the ends of the cloth, these tobacco leaves were dampened with
sprinkles of water and / or rum to keep them moist. The “Prick” was then formed by rolling and
compressing the cloth into a tapered bundle resembling the shape of a cigar. It was held
together by wrapping or hitching a cord securely around the bundle.
A “Prick” of Tobacco
Likely Early - Mid 19th Century
(McTear’s Auctions)
A “Prick” or “Carrot” of Tobacco
19th Century
(Museum of the Fur Trade)
“Pricks” of Tobacco
“Benjamin Perry was indicted, for that he, together with Lewis Hebourn , Charles Osbourn ,
and Jockey Paterson, not yet taken, did steal one hundred pounds weight of tobacco, value 3 l. 10
s. the goods of John Sydenham and Robert Hudson , in a certain ship lying on the river
Thames . Jan. 10 .
Samuel Vinton. Benjamin Perry , Lewis Hebourn , John Paterson and myself, about the latter
end of December or beginning of January last, we went to work to deliver a ship belonging to
captain Young of some staves; she lay in Bell-dock, Shadwell; the first day we began to work the
prisoner took away a prick of tobacco from among the staves, and, put it into my coat-pocket,
and I carried it on shore; I went to sell it but could not, then he took it and went and sold it for
two-and-twenty-pence, and brought the money.
“This morning I mounted the Governor's Guard -- Being an entire stranger, and no person to
introduce me to him or family, I was neglected by him at dinner time, but Mr. Foshaw and
inhabitant of the place invited me to dine with him, which I did. In the evening about sunset,
Governor Rutledge sent for me and appologised for the neglect. I spent the afternoon very
agreeably, drinking wine and smoking segars."
1787
Advertisement
Newport Mercury
May 7, 1787
Trade Card of Peter & George Lorillard of New York
May 27, 1789
Advertisement
New York Advertiser 1789
The Adams Letters
“... concerns occur that I wish to mention. Dr. Tufts desires me to mention to you Clover seed.
He wishes Brisler to inquire the Price and if it can be purchased as low as 10 pence or a shilling
pr pound. To procure a Barrel of it and ship it round tis 18 pence here and he says we shall want
some and he will take the rest. Another article I would mention is some Porter and some Segars
for your comfort ...”
“... a little over or a little Under sat smooking segars, drinking burgundy and Madeira and
talking Politicks till almost Eleven O Clock. This will do once in a great While, not often for me.
In Senate We have no Feelings this session. All is cool. No Passions.. No Animation in Debate.
I never Sat in any public Assembly, so serenely. What Storm may be preparing I know not. A
great Calm at sea and an ...”
The Adams Letters
“... blunder -some carlessness of theirs -- in Philadelphia -- New York or Boston. Or Perhaps
Mam is Sick -- Oh dear! Rhumatisms -- Oh dear! Fever and Ague! Thus peevishly, fretfully and
unphilosophically was Yesterday passed. Yet to divert it I read a Number of Books in Cowpers
Homer and Smooked I know not how many Segars. I have had the Agreable Society of Josiah
Quincy and Martin Lincoln ...”
“... plows as deep. The cattle cannot draw so firm. What a Jumble are my Letters. Politicks,
Domestick occurrences, Farming annecdotes. Pray light Your Segars with them. Leave them
not to the inspection of futurity, for they will never have any other value than that of giving
information for the present moment of upon those subjects which interest you and Your
affectionate A Adams ...”
Acknowledgements
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