John Bull's toothpick holder

Contributed by National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Toothpick holder belonging to smuggler John Bull © National Maritime Museum, Cornwall

Bull was a packet ship captain, part of an international mail service centred on FalmouthCornwall was once a post office for the world. From 1688 to the 1850s, fast ships known as packets continually set off and arrived to a timetable in Falmouth. Their routes took them across the Atlantic to north and south America and down to Lisbon and the Mediterranean. This silver pig tooth-pick holder was bought in Portugal by one of the most famous Falmouth packet captains, John Bull. Packets were lightly laden so there was plenty of room for 'trading on one's own account' or smuggling as it was less politely known. Tradition states that Bull had to buy back his pig when smuggled goods were auctioned off by the Customs at Falmouth.

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