In early 2006 Chuck passed away at age 61, reminding us of life’s fragility and the need to discuss problems with your doctor. He will be missed by a lot of people. His collection, for the most part, will become public.
Chuck owned an amazing 125+ boxes from Colorado (bequeathed to the Denver Historical Society). His equally large collections from Kansas and Nebraska were given to their respective State Historical Societies. I was surprised to learn that I was the recipient of the rest of his boxes, which were generously packed and delivered in person by his brother John and his wife.
Opening about 25 cartons filled with stuff you collect sends a buzz up your spine. Thank you Chuck and John for the thrill. As you can imagine, I found some common items, some pretty good items, and a handful of great rare historical pieces.
The latter included boxes from states with comparatively few cigar factories, especially Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma Territory, Washington and Dakota Territory. Chuck’s collection of cigarillo boxes tripled mine. A half dozen unusual Cuban vitolas from the 1950’s were a nice discovery. Among a couple dozen boxes picturing long forgotten thespians were a half dozen gems I’m delighted to get.
It would be tough to say what was the single best box, as there are so many reasons why a box might be desirable. How do you compare a one-of-a-kind plain label box from a one man factory in 1900 Oklahoma Territory with a 1905 box labeled with a bucking bronco painting used by a small town Wyoming roller? Where would you rank a photographic vanity from 1904 picturing toddler triplets rolling and boxing cigars? What about an 1870’s book box that’s very different in style from any of the 100+ I’ve owned? And I haven’t described my favorite yet.
I’m pleased to share a few of the best of Chuck’s collection with the world, the same as I hope the three historical societies do.
Chuck Tuthill’s Collection
a selection
Customers get to name the cigar.
My favorite box from Chuck.
Denver, Colorado c1932
[9507]
Photographic style painting converted to cigar label. Sheridan, Wyoming, 1902 [9512]
Bare basics label. Oklahoma Territory
boxes are very rare. 1903 [9510]
When drive for wealth becomes excess.
Bad brand name candidate.
Pennsylvania, 1899 [9508]
One of the best vanity labels I’ve seen.
Three youngsters making and packing cigars. Lockport, NY 1906 [9514]
Unique use of cardboard for top and bottom
covered with a leather-like pressed paper
makes for a more realistic book.
J. Holzman, NYC 1879 [9524]
Holzman’s other uses of clever packaging
can be seen in the Novelty Boxes exhibit.
[9521]
[9520]
Made by short-lived Chicago factory, c1891.
[9518]
I like boxes with state or city seals and
this is a very rare one. Sunshine state?
Aberdeen, So. Dakota 1927
[9511]
Dramatic 1930’s label design. 1934.
I personally find this very appealing design.
[9536]
Dramatic design includes distributor’s name.
Made by Doyle & Smith, Oneonta 1904.
[9529]
Dramatic design makes this one of my favorites.
Berriman Bros., Tampa, for Sontag Drug stores,
Los Angeles & San Francisco. 1932
[9540]
Early version of an important long-lived
Western brand. The dramatic design is much reduced in impact when the size of the logo is
greatly reduced. Solis Cigar Co., Denver 1916.
[9559]
E. Seidenberg, Stiefel & Co, NYC c1902
[9525]
Batchelor Bros, Philadelphia c1888
[9532]
Honoring H.S. Pingree, Mayor of Detroit.
“Friend of the people; foe of the trusts.”
San Telmo Cigar Co, Detroit c1905.
[9528]
Trinidad, Colorado c1943.
[9545]
One of more than 1,000 different Lincoln labels. Made in the Dakotas, 1920’s [9533]
Heavily advertised brand in an unusual NW box trimmed with full hardware packed 50/17.
Geo. P. Lies & Co., NYC c1902
[9569]
Vanity label picturing local labor temple.
Rare Utah box. Salt Lake City 1917
[9546]
The dictionary says: “pudor. a shrinking from blame, desire of approval, shame, modesty, decency, propriety.” Who knew? Made by Ben Eckert, Fulton St., Brooklyn c1888
[9550]
Horses are on boxes more than any other animal.
Made by Charles Sheets, Washington c1920
Boxes from the Northwest are rare. [9591]
G.M.Armstrong & Bros, Canton Illinois.
Illinois was the 3rd leading producer
of cigars after NY and PA. 1890’s.
[9585]
Other styles of the label exist. So do boxes
for Friar Tuck and Alan-a-Dale. Anyone
know of a Maid Marian cigar?
Fact. 3279, 9th PA c1904
[9551]
Made in NYC for The Hamburger Co. in Chicago.
[9556]
Modesty cigars. Scarce NW 12/12 sample
made in Manhattan c1894. Charming
design with her looking at the cigars.
I haven’t seen that design used elsewhere.
[9578]
First governor of Illinois.
Chicago c1912
[9584]
Eye-catching pre-WWI design.
Cigars made in Oregon, 1913
[9593]
Fred Steer maker, Jacksonville, Ill. 1943
[9596]
Poets and writers have long been featured
on cigar labels. Made for L.W. Surburg by
Alvarez, Mendez & Co. Tampa c1929
[9581]
Made in Yankton, South Dakota 1908
[9575]
Powell, Smith Co., Kingston NY 1901
First cigar company bought by the Tobacco Trust.
American Tobacco continued the brand.
[9561]
American Tobacco Company,
Fact. 117 SC, 1939
[9539]
Made by Fred Haak, Davenport, Iowa’s longest running factory, best known for Speckled Sports. [9570]
Cowboys, pretty girl, horses, and the outdoors.
How can you resist smoking one?
Roby Cigar Co, Barnesville, Ohio 1927
[9589]
One of Colorado’s largest brands.
Denver c1923
[9588]
Fancy folks at dinner. Cigars made by Rufino Oliverra, Earp St., Philadelphia 1903
[9565]
Three official stamps seen on boxes:
Union, NRA and Revenue (tax).
[9537]
Two shapes of NW 12’s, vertical and horizontal.
One from Chuck complimented mine perfectly.
Different cigar makers; different label printings.
[9505]
I thought this one of the rarest salesmen’s samples
I’d ever seen, but traded it to Chuck 15 years ago because it was his specialty.
Silver State Cigar Co., Denver 1894.
[9572]
Two different 9th PA cigar factories made this brand for an Omaha Distributor, c1905.
[9503]
Simple cardboard box used for box of 12 stogies
made in 9th PA (Lancaster Valley). 1904
[9502]
Gold Mine BN box with added trim, a style most often seen on LONDON WHIFFS cigars.
Fact. 440 9th PA c1900
[9576]
Top Ovals often replace Top Brands. c1912
They aren’t always oval shaped, however.
[9582]
Tax class notices that do not include the price
were used only 1917-1918, the first two years
they were required. See the dating exhibit
for a lot more about gov’t regulations.
[9547]
How Cigar Maker’s International Union stamps were cancelled, here by tiny S. Dak. local 327.
[9574]
