Thursday, October 8, 2009

Tampa Cigar Boxes and Labels


The cigar box collection at the Museum of Florida History is quite colorful and interesting and reminded me of Frank at Tampa Daily Photo. The front of this old box reads: Don Julian The Aristocrat of Tampa.




Brand-name paper labels used on the inside lids of cigar boxes exhibited detailed lithography and artistic patterns and also served to tie the cigar-making industry of Tampa to the local Cuban American community. There were many more of these labels on display, but I picked out the ones I liked the best. The first label features the old Tampa Bay Hotel. Click on any of these pictures to enlarge them so you can see the details.


The outside of a cigar box on display at the Museum of Florida History.

14 comments:

Cezar and Léia said...

Cool subject! :)
I think Garcia & Garcia is a normal Spanish name, isn't it?
Léia

Unseen India Tours said...

These are some really beautiful cigar cases and boxes..Nice post Lois !!Unseen Rajasthan

Darla said...

I love this old stuff!

B SQUARED said...

There is a lot of art in those boxes.

Benikos place said...

Hi Lois!!I love them so much!!Ive got also few originals from samos over 100 years old!Nice idea to make some photos.my best regards :)

Anonymous said...

Yep, I can see a Cuban standing there puffin' on a cigar right now as we speak! hehehe Part of our history

James said...

I have always liked old cigar boxes.
They really are works of art.

Frank said...

Lois - Every time I have written about Tampa's cigar history, and have noted that it was the Cigar Capital of the World, I always thought it might sound made up and just puffery. But in fact the industry was HUGE here and the artists and printers who created these labels were very talented and skilled. They make great artwork to frame. It's hard to believe that production hit its peak in 1929, when 500,000,000 cigars were handrolled in the factories of Ybor City.

Isn't the label with the Tampa Bay Hotel incredible?

Thanks Lois for the tag. I am smoking a Gracia y Vega right now in your honor! (They still make good cigars.)

Lowell said...

Fascinating...I've had three of the five in my possession at one time or another...

Frank can probably give you an historical rundown on each. Of course, he could just be blowing smoke!

Lois said...

I'm truly honored Frank. I know you are enjoying that cigar! Yes, the one with the Tampa Bay Hotel is my favorite, of course. In fact, it's a good thing it was locked up in a glass case or I might have been tempted to take it home.

Unknown said...

So very cool!

Tash said...

terrific. ditto on 'love the old stuff'.

Lisa Wilson said...

Those are great! Really works of art.

Clytie said...

Wow. These are truly works of art.