Antique Hershey’s Cocoa Tin Early 1900s Chocolate Advertising Lithographed Metal Can

More than a century of age and use has given this small Hershey’s Cocoa tin an exceptionally evocative advertising surface. Dating to the early 20th century, the rectangular metal container retains portions of its original dark burgundy lithographed finish, including the large HERSHEY lettering and traces of the original cocoa advertising graphics and product information. Its compact form, rounded corners and distinctive removable oval friction lid are characteristic of early packaged-food tins made to be retained and reused in the household. Hershey cocoa tins and other original advertising containers have become a distinct area of American food and confectionery memorabilia collecting.

This example is very heavily worn, with extensive loss and fading of the original lithography, scratches, oxidation, discoloration, exposed metal and overall surface wear throughout. The wear is plainly visible in the photographs and is an integral part of this particular tin’s aged appearance rather than something concealed in the listing. The removable lid is still present—a significant feature on an old utilitarian container that could easily have become separated from its top during decades of reuse and storage.

Measures approximately 4 inches tall by 2 1/2 inches wide. A character-rich piece of antique American advertising for collectors of Hershey’s memorabilia, chocolate and cocoa advertising, early grocery packaging, lithographed tins, general store and country store displays, primitive kitchen decor and early 20th-century Americana.