Jumbo Cigars
A National Cigar Museum Exhibit
© Tony Hyman
 
    The cigars are the novelty, not the box. Eleven inch long “jumbo” cigars originated in the 1880’s though most of the boxes pictured in this Exhibit are almost 100 years newer. Jumbos were taxed and packed according to different rules than cigars because the Government considered them tobacco novelties, not cigars.
    Jumbos were usually cellophaned, with the bands providing possibilities for a custom touch. Jumbos are commonly sold as souvenirs of places or events, including cities, political conventions, national parks, amusements and attractions, and the like. The most common jumbo brand is COVERED WAGON, though not all COVERED WAGONS are Jumbos.
 
NHM Home        Novelty Boxes
 
 
The earliest Jumbo non-cigar cigar
 
      Looks like a standard box of 100 regular cigars, but the ID says 25 and the Caution Notice reads: “The manufac-turers of this tobacco have complied...” Two clues to the giant size cigars packed side to side within. Made by one of the 100 rollers in the Detroit Cigar Mfg. Co., Fact. 2, 1st Mich., one of the largest 4 of the 230 in 1886 Detroit. Fine example of early printing on tin.  [2915]   [2920]
 
1960 era cardboard box containing four jumbos,
“A gift for any occasion.”  Well...
Fact. TP-20, Pennsylvania
[4439]
1960 era cardboard box containing eight jumbos,
“A gift for any occasion.”  Well...
Fact. TP-20, Pennsylvania
[4436]
1953 cardboard box that contained eight jumbos,
Tax was by weight, not value, so pricing was
up to the retailer.
Fact. T-202, Pennsylvania
[4437]
1953 cardboard box which held 8 jumbos that were souvenirs of Washington, DC. This retailer changed twice as much as the previous. Fact. 205, 1st PA.
[4443]
1955 cardboard box that contained four jumbos,
Distinctive design. “A welcome gift.”  Well...
Fact. TP-20, Pennsylvania
[4438]
1955 framed box (wooden sides, cardboard top and bottom) which held 8 jumbos. Fact. T-20, 1st PA.
[4444]
The most popular name in Jumbos. This 1948 box is the second style known; the earlier drawing was less professionally done. Fact. T-20 1st PA.
[4440]
The most popular name in Jumbos. This 1954 box uses the same label, but is box wrapped cardboard, rather than trimmed wood, the third style known. Fact. T-20 1st PA.
[4441]
The last COVERED WAGON box, the ultimate in cheaply made box held a dozen.
“Federal Stamp No Longer Required” dates it
to the late 50’s or very early 60’s.
[4442]
Gift card, one of eight  found in Jumbo box
of Republican Convention 1956 novelty “cigars.”
About the size of a business card.
A rain and leaky roof destroyed the box. Alas.
[7347]
A logical candidate for a jumbo.
Not in the NCM collection.
You don’t want to smoke it...so why not
give it as a gift?
Not in the NCM collection.
Big Bill Taft jumbo
 
 
    Very rare 19” x 9 3/4” wood jumbo box, the only one I’ve seen in 55 years. Made by Wolf Bros. in Red Lion, PA, Factory 1514, 9th PA. A big cigar created as a “Souvenir of our great President” in 1912 to honor the campaign of William Howard Taft, a man who weighed in excess of 300 pounds.
    The broken lid is typically fragile, the reason why large wooden cigar boxes that held 500 or 1000 cigars almost never survived.
[P0640]