As an eBay Seller and Purchaser, I am so often frustrated by those other sellers and/or buyers who DO NOT know the difference between mustache cups and shaving mugs. I'm sure my frustration is shared by the many other collectors of either item who also use eBay. One can spend a great deal of time looking up an object that is not classified correctly.

The MUSTACHE/MOUSTACHE cup and saucer was invented around 1830 by Harvey Adams of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England. What sets it apart from a regular cup and saucer? In theVictorian Era, almost all men sported a mustache of one style or size. It was de rigeur! However, the dapper mustache caused the dapper dandies problems. Their dyed, waxed and curled mustaches often drooped into the tea or coffee cup or dripped the colorful dyes and waxes into the beverages! A drawing room disaster of the times, causing women to send for the smelling salts.

Harvey Adams invention sported a ledge, called a mustache guard, across the cup. The guard had one semi-circular opening against the side of the cup. As the gentlemen sipped through the opening, their mustaches rested safe and dry on the mustache guard.They could enjoy their favorite hot beverage peacefully.

A shaving mug was an entirely different item with a totally different purpose. Shaving mugs were used by Victorian gentlemen to remove unwanted facial hair--in other words--to SHAVE. They did often have a divider across the mug that frequently had three or more small round holes through which the soapy water drained into the mug. This occurred while a shaving brush, soap and razor were wielded by a gentleman or his barber to remove his whiskered growth. Many shaving mugs had no divider at all! But these items--no matter how designed--were used only in shaving!

I can hear the supportive AMEN! from collectors at this point. Hopefully, my basic explanation will help to reduce the number of mustache cups and shaving mugs mislabeled on eBay in the future!

For additional information and photos, see the book "Mustache Cups, Timeless Victorian Treasures," Schiffer Publications, 1999. The authors are Peck and Erardi.