Im surmising that the storekeeper would have scooped out whatever amount of tobacco the customer asked for and would have put it in a little bagprobably a tiny cloth one with a little drawstring, but it may have been put in a tin or even a paper sack. Id date it to around the 1880s, give or take a few years. Judging from the greenish-brown color, I think it was made in West Virginia, Virginia, or Pennsylvania. Its in as is, as found, as photographed, what you see is what you get condition.
The old cobalt stencil looks more black than blue against the dark color of the jar. There is wear to the paint & surface. There is old paint or residue from those sticky sponge squares people use to keep from scratching wood on the bottom. It was like this when I bought it, so I just left it alone. The interior has Albany slip glaze; there is old residue insideit may come off, I didnt try to remove it.
There are also wonderful finger rings from the potters hands inside the jar. There are a couple tiny flea bites around the inner ring.
There is one chipits about 1/2-5/8 wide and about 1/8-1/4 high on the inside of the outer ring. Almost directly across from it, there is a small chipalso on the inside of the top/outer ringits about 1/8-1/4 wide and maybe 1/8 highnothing major, but worth mentioning nonetheless. Id almost bet these were made by someone trying to pry the wax off the top.At the bottom edgenear one of the blotches of whiteis a very small rub or chipabout 1/8 wide and high. The bottom of this piece is slightly concave.
This jar rings true when tapped. It weighs approximately 6 lbs.
It measures approximately 9 3/8 high, 5 3/4 across the top, and 7- 7 1/8 across the bottom. My last three photos show the United States Folk Pottery by Dr. It was published in 1977. I hope someone will add it to their own collection! Thanks so much for looking, God Bless, and happy shopping. The item "Antique Fine Maccoboy Tobacco Salt Glazed Stoneware Crock Jar, RARE" is in sale since Wednesday, November 13, 2019. This item is in the category "Antiques\Decorative Arts\Ceramics & Porcelain\Crocks". The seller is "sherryrabbit13" and is located in Saint Albans, West Virginia. This item can be shipped to United States.