The career of the U.S. cigar industry closely parallels the days of the nation’s greatest expansion and most exuberant patriotic fervor. So it’s no surprise that flags and other nationalistic emblems found their way onto thousands of cigar boxes.    
        Patriotism rises highest in times of war, so separating the themes of Patriotism and War were frequently arbitrary choices. To get the best look, visit both exhibits.
Patriotic Themes
A National Cigar Museum Exhibit
(c) Tony Hyman
 
1866. Patriotism ran high in the decades following the Civil War, the period of great cigar industry expansion. Cigars by Mooney & Howe, 6 Bleeker St., Utica, NY
[1405]
1885. Dropfront box of 250 packed in bundles of 5.
Roth, Bruner & Feist, giant Cincinnati maker of cheap cigars. Fact. 387, 1st Ohio
[4403]
1902. Misprint gives the flag 14 stripes. James McGahan & Brother, Fact. 12, 14th (Troy) NY.
[2105]
1890’s. This 41 star flag was made by LS Slade, Chelsea, Mass (Fact. 394, 3rd MA) for large
Maine distributor Twitchell Champlin Co.
Space hog NWH 100/25 box which I bought in a
New England antique shop in 1970 for 10¢. [2106]
1901.  “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Gorgeous box by Henry Breitwieser Fact. 216, 28th (Buffalo) NY.
A curator’s favorite.  
[2102]
c1900. Flag misdesigned with white stripes top and bottom and only six red stripes. Cigars by Hahn, Brussel & Co. on 63rd St, NYC, Fact. 8, 3rd NY.
[7391]
Inner of previous brand. Cigars made for M.F. & Co.
[7392]
1912. Flag, Lady Columbia, eagle, shield...”The Earth’s Best” and “Champions of the World.” Whew! Got it all. Banner Cigar Co. Fact. 722, 1st Mich.
Detroit box with good looking back panel.
[2104]
1905. Inspired by the Spanish-American War. Label pictures woman hanging flag honoring returning soldiers. Cigars by E. Meisner, Milwaukee, Fact. 679, 1st Dist. Wisconsin.
[2154]
 
1874. The eagle is our National Bird, and equally at home on cigar boxes. Cigars by John Krohe, NYC.
[5502]
1875. Yellow paper gives color to a black ink image celebrating the reunion of the country after the Civil War. Cigars by Christopher Schweitzer, 6th Indiana.
[1409]
1881.  George Kent, Binghamton,  Fact. 3, 21st NY used this very typical 1870’s design with central square flanked by decorative panels.
[10256]
1884. Hard to imagine a more gorgeous eagle.
Catalog card missing.
[2145]
1891.  Three color but dramatic in a showcase.
Henry Writer, Newberrytown, Fact. 3556, 9th PA.
[2155]
1899. Full color labels are not common on NW250 dropfront boxes of cheap cigars. Civil War battles make this one of the more spectacular.
Roth, Bruner & Feist, Cincinnati Fact. 387, 1st OH
[4404]
1911. Label is 1870’s style but still used decades later by Henry Mason, Boston Fact. 825, 3rd MA.
Square end showing the full label is typical of
nailed wood 100/10 style boxes.
[2150]
OLD ABE was the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin infantry regiment in the Civil War and went into combat with the unit. After the war he toured the country. He died in 1881 of smoke inhalation.
[2148]
c1910. Despite the American theme, the cigars were  made in London, Ontario, Canada, Fact. 14, IRD 32 and sold by the Havana Cigar Co., Toronto.
[2149]
1917. Distinctive eagle stands out in a counter.
Gotham Cigar Factory, Fact. 1020, 12th PA.
[6989]
1950. Labels are a lot more simple by the 50’s.
Catalog card missing.
[2152]
 
1885. Between the Revolution and the Civil War Brother Jonathan was the symbol of the new Union.
Hulll, Boesger & Co., Fact. 984, 18th Ohio, whose 100 rollers made it Cleveland’s largest cigar factory. [2125]
1884. Early Uncle Sam image posted on top of a hogshead of leaf and a crate of cigars.
Cigars by Chas. Fellman, Worcester, Mass.
[2108]
Close up of previous. Note striped pants, blue coat, top hat and boots, already his standard garb. He’s accompanied by Lady Liberty on the right.
[2109]
1884. UNCLE SAM’S DELIGHT were long 7” cigars. The standard size label requires a lot of white space to fit the oversize box of 50 made by Old Well Cigar Company, So. Norwalk, Connecticut.
[2111]
Sam wears standard garb, here accompanied by an eagle and a giant cigar.
[2110]
1880. Stock Currier & Ives trade card used by PATRICIO cigars features Uncle Sam sans hat
and boots, but with a flag and giant cigar.
[2116]
1903. Popular turn-of-the-century patriotic brand featuring Sam’s name, flag, shield and cigar. The cigar seen was a common shape in contrast to modern broomsticks. American Stogie Co. Allegheny, Fact. 231, 23rd PA.  [2114]
1903. Striped coat, top hat and cigar posed in front of a map of recently conquered Cuba. Cigars by
S.Z. Barney, Grand Rapids, Fact. 15, 4th Michigan.
 [2107]
1900. America’s most popular war is celebrated with a cartoon of Uncle Sam throwing Spain out of Cuba.
Cigars by an unknown Wisconsin maker.
[2120]
1910. Uncle Sam bloated by newly conquered cigar producers Puerto Rico, Manilla, Santiago & Havana.
Simple 3-color label by Fact. 202 Kansas.
[2119]
1910. Uncle Sam offers cigars “Made in Sanitary Factories by Old Experienced Cigar Makers.”
A.J. Dimmig, East Greenville, Fact. 353, 1st PA
distributed by J.A. Eberts & Co., Bethlehem, PA.
Matching edging and back flap.  [2123]
1920. Sam sits with outstretched unsupported legs in front of less than accurate map. Victor Levor “sole owner” of the brand. Fact. 478, 18th Ohio.
[2124]
1928. Stern Uncle Sam posed in front of ships and Statue of Liberty, smokestacks billowing to show prosperity.  Cigars by Thos. J. Costello, Syracuse  Fact. 35, 21st New York.
[2118]
 
1894. Named after the country itself. Full-color 250 dropfronts are not common as companies cut costs by using cheaper b/w labels for very cheap cigars.
Hernsheim Bros., New Orleans, Fact. 511 Louisiana claimed to have the country’s largest output.  [4421]
1902. War inspired but irresistible patriotic image so typical of the Spanish American War aftermath.
Julia Fix (taking over from deceased husband Fred), Dallastown, Fact. 537, 9th PA.
[2153]
1903. Exuberant patriotic label featuring Liberty, eagles, flags, stars, money, flowers, victory wreath and cigars. Brand created in 1877 by Seidenberg Fact. 200, 3rd NYC.
[2138]
1912. Brand taken over by Lorillard on the breakup of the tobacco trust. Box has notice that bands are omitted to cut production costs of these 3/5¢ cigars.
P. Lorillard, Fact. 17, 2nd Virginia.  [2141]
c1900. Schmidt & Co. sample label.
[2143]
1888. Columbia was considered the female manifestation of the United States.
J.A. Prist, Lititz had 25 rollers at Fact. 288 9th PA.
[2137]
1886. Flags, eagle, the capital building and a bosomy Indian maid in a tropical setting. Cigars by the 55 rollers in Fact. 103, 1st PA by Yocum Bros. for the Geneva Cigar Co. in Geneva, NY.
[2136]
c1928. Lovely composite of American symbols of patriotism, prosperity and beauty. Cigars by Alfred Bossard, St. Paul, Fact. 611 Minnesota for Newburger & Brother, Cincinnati.
[2128]
c1900. Pictorial representation of the abstract concept of the ship of State. Cigars probably by
Hume Bros., Minneapolis, Fact. 734, for Manley & Ball Co., Minneapolis.
[2127]
c1925. This brand was around for nearly half a century with various printed and vanity style labels.
Catalog card missing.
[2130]
1912. From the White House to Lincoln’s log cabin.
A.W. Servatius, Fond du Lac, Fact. 406, 1st Wisc.
[2134]
1881. Inspired by the Centennial, Hesslein Brothers of Chicago began featuring the Liberty Bell, yet another patriotic symbol. Fact. 259, 1st Illinois.
[2129]
The brothers ultimately renamed their factory after their best selling brand.
[2191]
1976. Bicentennial box of Consolidated’s
DUTCH MASTERS cigars.
[2170]