Political Cigar Boxes

(National Cigar History Museum) Since the 1860’s, elections have been special times for cigar makers, wholesalers, and retailers alike, all of whom quickly learned there was money to be made by covering boxes with labels picturing candidates and issues and offering them for sale wherever opinions ran hot. Saloons, pool halls, barber shops and men’s clubs were favorite spots. Continued

Photo: Boss Tweed Cigars (Library of Congress).