Selling Smoke
Selling Smoke

How Canadian Cigar Boxes Pitched Their Wares  1883-1935

Smokers' World
 A Rose by Any Other Name

In the idealized world of cigar labels, the fragrance of cigar smoke was as the scent of beautiful flowers ("flor fina"), its taste as flavourful and refreshing as fruit, and the cigar, purity itself.

Cigar box label : The Peach  
The Peach
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 1 IRD 50 Series of 1897
Likely J. Bruce Payne, Sherbrooke, Que.
CMC 2004.216.8 | D2005-17241
Cigar box label : The Bouquet  
The Bouquet
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 12 IRD 32 ca. 1883-1910
J. Smith, London, Ont.
CMC D-13663 | D2002-013854
Cigar box label : Idalia - Parfum du Soir  
Idalia - Parfum du Soir
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 14 Port 10-D Series of 1922
Likely Ulric Aubin, Montreal, Que.
CMC 2003.46.67 | D2005-22670
Cigar box label : Key West  
Key West
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 6 IRD 33 Series of 1897
Peter Heinbecker, Listowel, Ont.
CMC 2003.46.87 | S2004-268
Cigar box label : The Queen  
The Queen
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 2 IRD 10 Series of 1883
The Queen Cigar Factory, Sherbrooke, Que.
CMC 2004.38.48 | D2004-19304
Eddy Echenberg Collection
Cigar box label : Sweet Rose  
Sweet Rose
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 3 IRD 8 Series of 1897
B. Houde & Co., Quebec, Que.
CMC 2003.46.23 | S2003-3215
Cigar box label : Rosa Royal  
Rosa Royal
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 2 IRD 31 Series of 1897
The Latonia Cigar Co., Brantford, Ont.
CMC 2004.38.11 | D2004-19351
Cigar box label : Arabela  
Arabela
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 17 IRD 26 Series of 1897
Spanish Cigar Factory, Toronto, Ont.
CMC D-13740 | D2002-013817
Cigar box label : Purity  
Purity
Trimmed nailed wood box (50)
Factory 2 IRD 19  ca. 1907-1920
Poulin & Co., Brockville, Ont.
CMC 2003.46.46 | S2003-3284
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