It started in the small back in the 1960's when I was sailing as an electrician in the Norwegian Mercant Navy. I was quite fascinated by the design of several cigarette packets which I found in some of the countries I visited. Selected packets ended up in drawers back home - resting in peace for years until around 1980. During a house cleaning my wife asked if she should throw away the packets - but my heart said no. I decided at that moment to start a collection of all the different packets I could lay my hands on...

To date my collection cover packets from more than 140 different countries around the world, and the packets dates from around the 1890's to present. Here you'll find all types of cigarettes and packets; a Chinese brand which claims to cure hemorrhoids, the first version of the "smokeless" cigarette from 1988 (which was relaunched in May 1996 under the name "Eclipse" in U.S.A., "Inside" in Sweden, "Hi-Q" in Germany + "R" Japan), strange looking packets made of various materials, obscure brands from long gone factories/manufacturers, and up to common brands of present day. The vast quantity of packets in my collection was (and still is) achieved through intensive exchange with collectors around the world and during my own visits to various countries.

I have also done research work regarding the history of Norwegian tobacco manufacturers/importers and their various brands/products from the 1860's until present. This again have made me "an expert" within this field - something which led to consulting services for J.L.Tiedemanns Tobaksfabrik (privileged 1778) during the fundamental work in setting up their internal tobacco museum in 1991.

I exchange (or have exchanged) packets with collectors in the following countries: