Wileńska fabryka wyrobów tytoniowych Szyszmana i Durunczy w latach 1865–1925

The history of the development of the Karaim tobacco industry within the Russian Empire from the mid-nineteenth century to the revolution of 1917 is still little known. One of the country’s smallest religious minorities – the Karaite community – has monopolized this branch of production in many regions, including Crimea and cities such as Kiev, Riga and Vilnius. The article based on available sources, theme literature and press, presents the history of one of the more thriving tobacco factories in Vilnius in 1865–1925 founded by Jacov Szyszman and Isaac Duruncza, two Karaites from Crimea. In addition to its origin, headquarters, types of products, the number of employees and the fate of the owners, the most important events during its operation and the reasons for its takeover by the Polish Tobacco Monopoly were also discussed.