Historical information

The Schimmelpenninck factory stood in Wageningen until it finally closed in 2000. The Schimmelpenninck brand started in 1924 when two brothers and an uncle merged their cigar factories into one company. It was called after Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck, raadspensionaris (kind of a prime minister) of the Batavian Republic in 1805-1806.
The tobacco industry has a long history in this town; in the 17th century one fifth of all arable land around the town was used for tobacco. Originally used in pipes and as snuff, the popularity of cigars in the 19th century led to a large expansion of the Dutch tobacco industry. The Schimmelpenninck factory was at its largest just before World war II, 700 employees produced 32 million cigars. Wageningen was heavily damaged during operation Market Garden in 1944, the whole population was evacuated and most of the machines of the Schimmelpenninck factory were stolen or destroyed. After the war, consumption of cigars was much reduced and the firm slowly merged with others. Eventually they became part of Rothmans.

Significance

This box and the brand name Schimmelpenninck represent several periods of Dutch history between the time of the Republic and the post WWII years. Cigar smoking was very popular in the Netherlands pre-war but less so in the second half of the 20th century partly due to a growing awareness of tobacco's carciogenic properties.

Physical description

Large flat wooden box designed to hold 78 cigars. The lid is attached with brass hinges and two brass clasps enable it to be closed. A large red label with silver script and illustrations is attached to both the outside and the inside of the lid.

Inscriptions & markings

Schimmelpenninck. Hollands Finest Cigars