Snuff in the 17th Century
- 1620: Europe's first Snuff factory established in Sevilla, Spain
- 1624: Pope Urban VIII threatens excommunication for snuff users; sneezing is thought too close to sexual ecstasy
- 1637: France: King Louis XIII enjoys snuff and repeals restricions on its use
- 1642: Pope Urban VIII issued a formal bull against tobacco,
- 1643: Russia: Tsar Michael of Russia has declared smoking a deadly sin.
- 1644: Snuff introduced in China
- 1660: England: Charles II introduces Snuff in England
- 1675: Snuff arrives in Germany (probably with the huguenots)
- 1675: Monopoly on all tobacco and Snuff given to an Italian called Bignami by Bavarian elector
- 1690: Bull against use of Snuff in St. Peter's Basilica
- End of 16th Century: Snuff reaches China and the snuff bottle is invented
It was during the 17th century that snuff taking became more popular in Europe although this practice had a number of strong opponents often imposing severe penalties for snuff takers. Originally snuff shops were indicated by a wooden carved Scots Highlander in full kilt - similar to the Cigar Store Indian signs of North America
Snuff became increasingly popular, particularly amongst the aristocracy after Charles II introduced it in 1660 after returning from exile in Paris, where he had picked up the habit common in the French Court.
Snuff tobacco manufacturing was seen as early as 1670 in Paris largely due to Louis XIII of France who was said to enjoy a pinch of snuff or two. He did, however, forbid the use of snuff except when prescribed by physicians as a remedy against the common cold and for relief from catarrh. Manufacturing had also spread to the of Morlaix and Dieppe by 1680.
In Russia, however, things were not quite so liberal! In the middle of the 17th century Tsar Michael I of Russia ordered that snuff takers should have their noses cut off, whilst smokers should have their lips slit, be whipped for the first offence and executed for the second. Around the same time Pope Urban XIII ordered that anyone found guilty of taking snuff in church should be excommunicated. This makes the smoking ban coming in July look rather tame in comparison!!!
After having been banned, as in numerous other European countries, tobacco was re-introduced in China around 1644 under the Qing dynasty
Towards the end of the 16th century snuff arrived in China, introduced by Portugese tradesmen and Jésuit missionaries. It was here that the snuff bottle was invented due to the increased humidity and moist climate that rendered the snuff box impractical. Snuff bottles were originally used for storing herbs in Chinese medicine, but their use for storing snuff soon became apparent.
The Chinese believed that snuff possessed medicinal qualities and that its use helped to dispel colds, cure migraine, sinus and tooth pain, relieve throat trouble, cause sweats and counter asthma and constipation.
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