Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is an incredibly rare, early 20th-century cylindrical coffee tin featuring a fragile, wrap-around paper label for 'Great American Steel Cut Coffee'. The Great American Tea Company was the direct predecessor and sister company to the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P), which became the world's largest retailer.
Story
In 1859, George Gilman started selling tea off New York docks, eventually founding the Great American Tea Company. This humble tin represents the birth of the modern supermarket chain before A&P dominated global retail.
Maker / Origin
The Great American Tea Company was founded in New York by George Gilman and George Huntington Hartford. They bypassed traditional wholesalers to sell directly to consumers at dramatically lower prices. This business model revolutionized American grocery shopping, eventually evolving into the grocery giant A&P.
Condition & Value
The tin is in heavily weathered, rustic condition. There is significant rust scaling across the metal lid and base, along with substantial staining, tearing, and paper loss to the original paper label.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.