I’m a newbie when it comes to Indian snuffs, and I just have a question: What on earth does the “Photo” in “6 Photo”, “41 Photo” refer to? What does photography have to do with snuff-taking?
I recall hearing/reading it came from low literacy rates in India back in the day. The customer would ask for the tin with six photos on it, etc. I don’t know if that’s true, but that’s what I heard!
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These snuffs are apparently often sold in areas of low literacy. The photo scheme (6, 7, 41 etc) allows easier product identification for those users
I believe that explanation above is true, that products were recognized by the number of photos on the tin. Although in retrospect, my tin of 41 photo doesn’t have 41 pictures on it…Imagine being called 1000 photo, there wouldn’t be room on the tin…
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I’ve only heard of 6,7 and 41 photo. Presumably all the missing numbers did once exist but died a death cos they weren’t much cop??
I’ve read up on a 5 Photo, but apparently it’s no longer available outside of India. Apparently they made a snuff called Himalaya which was popular. I’m pretty sure a search of the Snuffhouse archives would be helpful on that subject. FWIW, I saw a few Indian snuffs previously unfamiliar to me yesterday… Paanch Photo, Swastik, and something or other “creamy snuff”. Not interesting enough to be of interest to me at this time, but those unfamiliar may want to Google them.
As some members rightly pointed out in above posts, the low literacy rates in India in early 20th century led to this photos association with snuff. One photo, two photos &so on .Since the photo branding clicked with the consumers ,all the new companies entering the snuff business were forced to follow suit…
But this photo branding is restricted to the GIDDARBAHA snuff industry which primarily makes and specializes in the black color snuff.
There are certain other snuff manufacturing hubs in India who use a different type of branding. .
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