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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Brass tobacco box, rectangular with one labate curly side where lid opens, engraved 'modern prophecy', English, 1801-1900
Used to carry tobacco for chewing or smoking, this pocket-sized brass tobacco box is engraved with the words “Modern Prophecy” and a picture of a strange looking flying machine. Apparently flying by means of flapping wings, this ‘ornithopter’ appears to be steam powered. Such machines would have been a feature of the science fiction of the day.
This type of image is not uncommon on tobacco boxes although it is unclear what it means.
Details
- Category:
- Smoking
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A234339
- Materials:
- brass
- Measurements:
-
overall: 22 mm x 78 mm x 100 mm, .11kg
- type:
- tobacco box
