The story of the Cuban cigar industry after the War of 1868-78 involves a flurry of mergers and annexing among the survivors, many new companies, and an increased foreign (German, British and American) involvement. Over time I hope to post pictorial exhibits with a more historical bent that tell that story. Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, a sampling of important cigar companies and their labels. Unfortunately, less than 20% of this particular collection has been photographed. If you enjoy this exhibit, be certain to visit other Cuban exhibits, most of which are more complete.
Because top brands (marcas) have almost mythical importance in Cuban cigar history, they are included when pictures are available.
GOLDEN AGE CUBAN LABELS
A National Cigar Museum Exclusive
© Tony Hyman
is OPEN while under construction
Starting in the 1840’s, successful brands
built giant factories in Havana. Their pictures
were more likely to decorate flaps and
maker’s labels than inners, tho a few are seen.
[1126]
Both of these factories were among the 20+
important Cuban cigar brands bought by the
Tobacco Trust 1898-1908, most of which
were ultimately closed or resold.
[1127]
Non-traditional marca.
[1128]
Nudes, other than a few uni-bare-breasted
allegorical ladies, were not common
on cigar labels in Cuba or the U.S.
[1129]
Diamond shaped marcas are less common.
[1130]
Roman Catholic imagery is exceptionally rare on cigar labels, especially a depiction of a chalice and host in the hands of, horror of horrors, a woman.
A rare and desirable box or label to find today. [1131]
Obviously hand-drawn marca. Was it actually
used on a box, or was this drawing only
for registration purposes? Do you own one
of these beautiful boxes with this crude marca?
[7442]
Interior label of the brand. c1895
[7453]
A cluttered version of the traditional layout.
[7441]
Spanish, English and French are found of this label used by Estanilio y Ca. around 1900. Whether this was an inner or a flap is unknown. This label is foxed (brown spots) which is unusual as cigar label paper was low acid so rarely foxed. [7440]
Very popular international brand of the 1890’s,
bought up and ultimately shut down by the
Tobacco Trust. Americans tended to spell
Ynclan with an I instead of a Y.
[7435]
Flap or inner? Whichever, it dates from 1902,
just before the marca and factory were bought.
[7436]
Cuban top brands tended to include the brand name, the maker and the city. Is this a rule? No.
Is this only in Cuba? No, but a higher percentage
of Cubans follow that pattern compared to
U.S. brands where only a few do. [7430]
Cuban production and advertising was highly influenced by the fact that half the cigars rolled on the Island were smoked in some other country.
Their customer’s patriotism is often reflected onto
Cuban cigar labels. c. 1890. [7429]
Marked as being made by “Manuel Lopez y Ca.’
Havana Cigar & Tobacco Factories, Ltd, Successor, Subsidiary of the American Tobacco Co.”
A complex web in those pre WWI days.
[7431]
When President Garfield was assassinated in 1881 after only 6 months in office, Cuban factories were ready to step in with a memorial
brand in his honor.
[7434]
Nicely done, subtle and sad, bi-chromatic label.
[7432]
Flap for previous brand. c1882
[7433]
Simple traditional top brand of a c.1900 brand.
[7478]
Early labels sometimes omitted both brand name and maker’s name, .. c1880
[7475]
A later version of the end label was more informative, but the brand name was
still omitted. c1890
[7479]
Popular Golden-Age brand.
[7439]
Lovely 19th century allegorical.
[7437]
This outer label is fancier than the inner, perhaps newer, early 20th century.
[7438]
Spanish-Indian relations were nowhere near
as idyllic as this label would have you believe.
The bohio (palm leaf house) is still seen
in rural Cuba today.
[1132]
Gorgeous flap. What brand? CORA?
[1134]
Columbus was a popular figure in American
folk-mythology and in Cuban label design.
[1133]
LA COABA was made in the 1870s by J. Pando y Compania at 129 Lealtad St., presumably where the factory in the drawing is located. Or not. By the 1890s the brand is no longer listed.
Not in the NCM Collection..
Cuban? More likely European?
It can sometimes be difficult to tell.
Europeans used vertical end labels decades
longer than Cuban or U.S. cigar companies.
[7443]
