1880s Coffee Sample Tin Sent By Mail

United States, 1880. Good to very good. Light discoloration to tin, light dust soiling to upper lid and label, rubbed.. A sample of coffee beans sent from an unknown dry goods store or coffee roaster via the mail c.1880. The beans are housed in their original metal tin with wooden top, which screws securely onto the tin via a metal screw. Printed label marked Howe's Sample Mail Case No. 3 - Pat. Sept. 9, 1879. It has been addressed in ink on the upper lid label to "Robt Williams Belfast Tenn"-- perhaps Robert Williams (1806-1884), Mexican War veteran and the first postmaster of Belfast. Includes two 3c George Washington stamps. As one might expect, such sample tins rarely survive, let alone with the original samples inside. A nice example of postal history. Measures approx. 3.75" in diameter and 1" in height.