Tracy Dolphin has been collecting biscuit tins since 1982. She studied the history of design at Brighton Polytechnic, concentrating on twentieth-century design and architecture. Her dissertation was entitled 'Biscuit Tins: Design, Manufacture and Social Context, 1860-1914'.

In the mid-nineteenth century biscuit tins developed as a tasteful form of advertising. They found their way into households as gifts, often being kept as ornaments and storage boxes, and have survived well in many homes. Their appeal lies in the quality and detail of their decoration, their design often demonstrating a deeply artistic sensibility and refined knowledge of art history, and great care and attention to detail from mostly anonymous designers. This book provides an introduction to biscuit tins, covering the designs, decorative techniques and companies who made and sold them.