Before the introduction of cigarettes, loose tobbaco was sold, at this same time snuff was also used, this would be made from grinding tobbaco to a fine powder, which would be inhaled through the nostrils, unlike tobbaco which had to be placed in a receptical such as a pipe and then ignited before smoking. 
 
Snuff and tobbaco boxes came in all shapes and materials from the early Chinese snuff bottles to very basic plain tins.
 
This is a brass tobbaco tin very plain in design and would been a popular accessory in the 19th and early 20th century. Although this is quet large I think it would still be carried in a mans pocket , most likely a working man. The body is made from brass with a tinned inside so as to not taint the tobbaco.
 
The tin closes well with a good hinge, it has a small dinge to the lid but is in general very good condition.
 
Dimensions: 13cm wide 7cm deep