Prince Albert (tobacco) facts for kids
Prince Albert is an American brand of pipe tobacco that was first introduced in 1907. It was created by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Since 1987, the brand has been owned by John Middleton Inc.
The product was a very popular brand of pipe tobacco in the United States. In the 1930s, it was one of the top-selling products for the R.J. Reynolds company.
History of the Brand
How the Brand Got Its Name
The brand was named by its creator, R. J. Reynolds, in honor of Edward VII. Before he was crowned King of the United Kingdom, his title was Prince Albert.
The picture of Prince Albert used on the packaging came from a portrait. Reynolds reportedly got the portrait at a tea party he attended with the famous author Mark Twain.
A Famous Joke
The brand's name led to a very old and well-known practical joke. The joke is usually done as a prank phone call to a store.
A person calls a store and asks, "Do you have Prince Albert in a can?" Because the product was often sold in a metal can, the store clerk would usually say "yes."
The prankster would then reply with the punchline: "Well, you'd better let him out!" The joke plays on the two meanings of "in a can."
Collectible Tins
Over the years, the metal tins that Prince Albert tobacco was sold in have become popular collector's items. People who collect vintage advertising often look for these tins.
The value of a tin depends on its age, its condition, and how rare it is. The design on the tins changed many times, making some versions harder to find than others. For example, some special tins were made for the Panama Railroad Company and have unique stamps on them.
