Vintage English tea tin from Ridgways Ltd, HMB Her Majestys Blend

Vintage English tea tin from Ridgways Ltd, HMB Her Majestys Blend.

• Manufacturer: Thomas Ridgway
• Date of manufacture: early 20th century

Description
Antique tea tin from Ridgways Ltd, HMB Her Majestys Blend. Rectangular tin for a personalized tea blend specially made at the request of Queen Victoria of England. The tin is equipped with a hinged lid. The decoration consists of a cream-white background with text in red and blue.

• Text on lid: HMB Her Majestys Blend
• Text inside lid: Caution. Ridgways Ltd guarantee the genuineness of this packet if the seal of the top of the bag etc... (see photo).
• Text front and back: Tea merchants to the late Queen Victoria. By special appointment.
• Text left side: Ridgways Royal Tea Merchants established at King William Street in the City of London. In the year 1836. In the reign of King William the Fourth.
• Text side right: H.M.B. (Her Majesty's Blend) This is a blend of Choice & Delicately Flavored Tea's in the exact proportions as originally ordered for her private use by The Late Queen Victoria and supplied to H.I.M. The empress of Germany and the House of Lords.

Condition
This English tea tin is in a vintage condition with various traces of use and age-related traces of wear. Photos are part of description.

Dimensions

• Height: 9 cm.
• Length: 15.5 cm.
• Width: 11.2 cm.

Thomas Ridgway was an English trader who specialized in the import and sale of tea during the early 19th century.

His first shop was in the Bull Ring area of Birmingham; this went bankrupt, and he moved to London. The new business, The Tea Establishment (Ridgway and Company) of King William Street, London, imported tea, coffee and spices, later specializing in tea. Its success enabled Ridgway to repay his creditors.

A Ridgway representative was among importers who met at the London Tavern in March 1851 to condemn the high price and the adulteration of coffee sold to "the lower class of consumer". Ridgways became one of the first companies to sell tea hygienically pre-packed as a measure against adulteration.

In 1876 Queen Victoria requested a blend for her personal use. In 1886 the House of Ridgway received a Royal Warrant for its development, and Her Majesty's Tea Blend (now called Her Majesty's Blend) is still sold today by Typhoo Tea.

In 1998 Premier Brands relaunched the Ridgways brand, stressing the continuing Royal Warrant and a commitment to Fairtrade ethical standards.

Some translations come from an automated system and may contain errors.