And a nice one too! It was given to the 1st class travelers on the Holland-America Line. Copper box. I like it! Needs some polishing though 
Made around 1910/1920’s. Not bad for $40 I say .
Do not clean or polish it!!! It’s BEAUTIFUL the way it is now. Just use it, carry it in your pocket, handle it and it’s true character will come forward.
But Pieter… but… really ?
I think the rule of thumb is never polish or attempt to restore old metal, a lot of people destroy the value of antiques by doing that. But of course its yours to do with what you like.If it was mine I would research the best way to deal with old copper rather than buying somethinmg off the shelf straightoff, just personal thoughts…but well done on finding a really beautiful box - does it leak snuff?
@ Snuffster : does it leak snuff? –> No idea yet, it’s still in the mail on it’s way to me And yes, I will be carefull IF I’m going to clean it, but now that I thought about it…I will probalby not
Just carry it around in your pocket, after a few weeks it will be much cleaner, seriously. The friction against your clothing will get the work done.
Here are some pretty good instructions on how to clean antique copper: http://www.ehow.com/how\_4457330\_clean-antique-copper.html I strongly recommend cleaning it, it may be a snuff box but you don’t know what people have kept in it over the years.
Thanks Street Carp! Check this from your website… : Keep copper items dry at all times. Water/any liquid plus copper produce the blue-green substance we call “verdigris.” Verdigris is poisonous. Therefore, any copper items used for cooking must be checked for verdigris before every use. Make it a practice to polish copper utensils both before and after using for cooking, and dry them thoroughly by hand. Read more: How to Clean Antique Copper | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how\_4457330\_clean-antique-copper.html#ixzz11aZo5fqt Better check if this stuff is not inside…
No problem mate.
Verdigris…hrm. Every have to cut a copper water line in your house? The inside is likely coated in a blue/green layers of the stuff. I like the box, but wow, it looks big. Is it like 4" wide? Does the lid have a hinge? I find that a hinged lid is a must for me. I hope it doesn’t leak on you! Chris
Hopefully it is a snuff box - as a give away on an expensive steam line it could also be a soap dish or a lot of other things, with any luck the lid will be niceand tight and fit for the purpose. I have my doubts that it was originally given away as a snuff box I have to say.
I’m with snuffster, I doubt that it is an actual snuff box. It looks like a soap dish and it probably came with soap originally.
damned! The tricked me! If it’s a soap box… I will return it. If it closes good though… It looks nice
A real beauty. Congratulations.
Why should a shipping service provide snuff boxes for passengers? In the rare cases where first-class passengers take snuff they will presumably have brought their own boxes. It’s a nice little item but I agree that it is probably a copper soap dish. Other items stamped with the Holland-America line include ashtrays and deck-chairs.
I will see when I get it in… and it’s a nice historical item anyway If it’s not suitable for the Job I will put it on E-bay
To be completely frank Micheltn its not a snuff box, I think we can say that with certainty; snuff boxes were given away but usually a bit earlier in time and as one off gifts to dignitaries in the same way a watch or whatever would be given now. The time frame, circumstances and appearance are against this being a snuff box Small boxes with any degree of age are usually put on ebay as snuff boxes because thats what people who don’t know much tend to think they are. You may not have got this on ebay but the principle is the same. Obviously, soap dishes etc are not made to the same exacting specs that a snuff box is to avoid snuff coming out or the box opening in your pocket. Worst case scenario is that you have a nice box that doesn’t work for snuff. But - it has to be said that some old tins and boxes are great for snuff by accident rather than design and you might be pleasantly surprised and it turns out to be perfect. Everybody here would be pleased to look over any future purchases; there are some experts here so feel free to use them!
“snuff boxes were given away but usually a bit earlier in time and as one off gifts to dignitaries in the same way a watch or whatever would be given now.” …You mean like watches were given away 50 years ago. You notice Barak and Michelle gave the Queen an I-pod not a watch.
Guess Im out of date.
Think of it this way. The chinesse snuff bottles didn’t start as snuff bottles. They were medicine bottles. So if it works that is the thing that matters.