Antique Cigarette Box RUSSIAN IMPERIAL Bogdanov and Co Wooden Vintage pre-1917

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Antique Cigarette Box RUSSIAN IMPERIAL Bogdanov and Co Wooden Vintage pre-1917:
$95.00

Antique wooden cigarette box with a very interesting graphic on the front, same print repeated inside lid. The box has a silver toned clasp, and a lift out inset shelf with three compartments inside. Covering is olive green toned heavy paper with a slight texture. Box appears to be made of a combination of heavy cardboard and lightweight wood. There are two blue stamps on the front edge of the lid, presumably import stamps of some sort, the one on the right is more complete and says \"US IR Cigarettes A 50\". Outside of box is stained and has some peeling of paper covering, inside is in better condition but is slightly yellowed. Translation of front text: Society of Tobacco factory of Former B.F. Bogdanov and Co in Kerch (city in Crimea) Cabinet set no.10.
From the St. Petersburg Encyclopedia: \"...Franz Heinrich Factory was opened in 1856 and reorganised into A. N. Bogdanov and Co. Partnership in 1884...There were only seven Tobacco factories remaining in St. Petersburg by 1917; A. N. Bogdanov and Co. was the largest of them, employing 2,700 workers. All the factories were nationalised in 1918, some of them closed down, the other factories received numbers instead of names\" Due to this information, it is estimated that the box is at least from 1917, if not earlier. There are two dates on the box graphic, 1882 and 1896. Dimensions of the box are 9.75\" x 6.25\" x 1.5\" (24.77 cm x 15.88 cm x 3.81 cm). A unique piece with a lot of history behind it!