Small Town Choices Colusa, California 1875-1905 A National Cigar Museum Exclusive © Tony Hyman

Small Town Choices Colusa, California 1875-1905 A National Cigar Museum Exclusive © Tony Hyman http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html Ever wonder what brands were available in a remote small Western town in the late 1800’s? Wonder no more. The boxes in this Exhibit were sold 1875-1905 by merchants in the tiny County-seat town of Colusa, located in California’s central valley roughly 150 miles Northeast of San Francisco. When these boxes were emptied, they were used by county tax officials to store duplicate receipts and other documents between 1875 and 1905. Once filled with official papers, these and hundreds of other cigar boxes were stored in a warehouse on the edge of town. A century later, a violent rainstorm collapsed the old warehouse roof, soaking the boxes and records. An official decision was made to discard them. One of the men responsible for cleaning the mess salvaged a selection of relatively unharmed cigar boxes and took them home. A quarter century later he sold them to me. Statistically, it might seem logical to say the rescued boxes would provide a random look at what type of boxes were available at that time. Unfortunately, more than chance determined the ultimate selection. The size, shape and material of the boxes influenced which ones the tax collector originally brought home from the tobacconist. They are all nailed wood, chosen because they would be sturdier than cardboard boxes, tho the latter were widely used for stogies and cheap cigars and would have been available. Salvaged boxes are almost all uniformly sized boxes of 50 which suggests that odd sized boxes were rejected 100 years ago. The boxes used are almost all 50/13’s which means that 50/10’s were too short and 50/17’s too long for either the records or uniform storage. Lastly, the sample is influenced by the artsy factor. As a general rule, people, when they choose between two similar cigar boxes, almost always keep the most attractive. We know from surviving printer’s catalogs that most cigar label designs were nothing special, whereas the vast majority of surviving pre 1920 cigar boxes are decorated with very pretty labels. During the century between when these boxes were made and today, “natural selection” favored the attractive. The man from whom I bought them admits that, when searching through the soggy rubble, he salvaged “the prettiest” boxes he could find. These research caveats notwithstanding, the surviving boxes provide a better look at brands available in a small Western mining town than would a list in a ledger or the showcase contents seen in a photograph. The collection is biased in favor of attractive wooden 50/13s but they do demonstrate that cigars were shipped a long ways to market 125 years ago and that small town folks sometimes smoked expensive cigars. The boxes are displayed in the following order: [1] Boxes for cigars made in Colusa; [2] Boxes for cigars made elsewhere in California; [3] Boxes for cigars made in Florida; [4] Boxes for cigars made elsewhere in the United States; [5] Boxes for cigars imported from Cuba. PRINCESS. Made by Hoenes & Kirschner, Colusa, according to the overprint, Factory 211, 1890. Four of these boxes with minor variations, indicating different printing lots were found. [9002] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#0 403ba89a-cdb8-47a8-b1c5-d25e77958e86 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa902/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa902/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8"><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">PRINCESS. </span>Made by Hoenes & Kirschner, Colusa, according to the overprint, Factory 211, 1890. Four of these boxes with minor variations, indicating different printing lots were found.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9002]</p></div></div> MANUEL GARCIA ALONSO brand name and a Cuban address and design, but made by Hoenes & Kirschner, Colusa, c1890, in Fact. 211. [9008] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#1 48dc98f4-0fe9-4b59-94f1-a344072fa330 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa908/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa908/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">MANUEL GARCIA ALONSO <span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">brand name and a Cuban address and design, but made by Hoenes & Kirschner, Colusa, c1890, in Fact. 211.</span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9008]</p></div></div> SILVER QUEEN Ordinary “pretty girl” label used on yet another brand by Hoenes & Kirschner sold in Colusa in the 1880s. [9014] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#2 07458630-2f1d-443d-bf0d-20fa52d386e3 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9014/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9014/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">SILVER QUEEN  <span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">Ordinary “pretty girl” label used on yet another brand by Hoenes & Kirschner sold in Colusa in the 1880s.</span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9014]</p></div></div> KEY WEST Ordinary “Spanish pretty girl” label used on yet another brand by Hoenes & Kirschner sold in Colusa in the 1880s. Cigars made in Key West were regarded as the best outside Havana, with the benefit of being cheaper...so the name appears everywhere, even in a small farm town. [9015] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#3 15358c1c-f2ad-48b1-8e39-8df8298eb71f http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9015/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9015/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">KEY WEST  <span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">Ordinary “Spanish pretty girl” label used on yet another brand by Hoenes & Kirschner sold in Colusa in the 1880s. Cigars made in Key West were regarded as the best outside Havana, with the benefit of being cheaper...so the name appears</span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">everywhere, even in a small farm town.  [9015]</p></div></div> LA ESTRELLA This Fact. 211, Colusa, brand was a direct knock-off of the well-known LA ESTRELLA brand made by Eduardo Gato in Key West, FL, which was also sold in Colusa. See next. [9012] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#4 4a402567-3388-458e-a4ca-856c66016cbe http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9012/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9012/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8"> <span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">LA ESTRELLA  </span>This Fact. 211, Colusa, brand was a direct knock-off of the well-known <span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">LA ESTRELLA </span>brand made by Eduardo Gato in Key West, FL, which was also sold in Colusa. See next.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9012]</p></div></div> LA ESTRELLA The original, one of the few brands famous enough to have coast to coast distribution. Cigars by Eduardo H. Gato, Fact. 38, Key West, Florida, in the very early 1890s. [9045] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#5 60c2cd9e-7d8f-4e9f-9fe9-3516edac120b http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9045/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9045/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8"><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">LA ESTRELLA </span> The original, one of the few brands famous enough to have coast to coast distribution. Cigars by Eduardo H. Gato, Fact. 38, Key West, Florida, in the very early 1890s.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9045]</p></div></div> AEOLIAN Semi-languishing “pretty girl” label used on yet another brand by Hoenes & Kirschner sold in Colusa in the 1880s. [9013] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#6 c842c6f6-b814-42ba-b88e-a69f1dcf74cc http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9013/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9013/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">AEOLIAN  <span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">Semi-languishing “pretty girl” label used on yet another brand by Hoenes & Kirschner <br/></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_9"><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">sold in Colusa in the 1880s. </span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9013]</p></div></div> ROUGH & READY “Pretty girl” label doesn’t fit the brand name. Cigars made at 730 Pacific St. in San Francisco by Wong, White & Co. were sold in Colusa during the 1890s. Name was a knock-off of the well-known Cuban READY & ROUGH. [9024] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#7 e05dc483-251d-47da-8898-32df903d856d http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9024/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9024/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">ROUGH & READY <span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_10"> </span><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">“Pretty girl” label doesn’t fit the brand name. Cigars made at 730 Pacific St. in San Francisco by Wong, White & Co. were sold in Colusa during the 1890s. Name was a knock-off of the well-known Cuban </span>READY & ROUGH.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_10"><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_10">[9024]</span></p></div></div> MORNING GLORY “Pretty girl” and flowers label for cigars made at 219 Battery St. in San Francisco by E. Goslinski & Co. in 1876. Fact. 71, 1st Calif was one of SF’s fifteen cigar factories employing 100 or more rollers in the 1880’s. [9023] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#8 31b99242-a7cc-41eb-af85-83a2ea16f7b5 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9023/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9023/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">MORNING GLORY <span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_10"> </span><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">“Pretty girl” and flowers label for cigars made at 219 Battery St. in San Francisco by E. Goslinski & Co. in 1876. Fact. 71, 1st Calif was one of SF’s fifteen cigar factories employing 100 or more rollers in the 1880’s</span>.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9023]</p></div></div> RED TAPE Early and rare box with cigars by Beverleigh & Co. [n.p.] and label printed by Korbel of later wine fame. 1876 cancelation, two years before some historians have Korbel opening. Tiny CN. Crude drawing of Indian Wars. [9027] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#9 b285ba7b-a4ed-44fd-849d-8c55a3d08119 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9027/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9027/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">RED TAPE <span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9"> Early and rare box with cigars by Beverleigh & Co. [n.p.] and label printed by Korbel of later wine fame. 1876 cancelation, two years before some historians have Korbel opening. <br/></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_9"><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">Tiny CN. Crude drawing of Indian Wars. </span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9027]</p></div></div> LA NATIVIDAD Earliest example yet found of this long-lived important California brand. Only one made by Frankel, Gerdts & Co. in Fact. 124, 1st CA, located at 244 Fremont, in San Francisco. 1904 [9022] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#10 2cf0b4ed-bace-492c-99cc-a155f4f16a08 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9022/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9022/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_11"><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_11">LA NATIVIDAD</span>  <span class="style_12">Earliest example yet found of this long-lived important California brand. Only one made by Frankel, Gerdts & Co. in Fact. 124, 1st CA, located at 244 Fremont, in San Francisco. 1904</span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9022]</p></div></div> The Dixie Chicks, 1902 version. Attractive box made by D. Eisner, 404 Clay St., San Francisco in Fact. 26, 1st CA, and sold in Colusa. [9031] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#11 ec03103e-cd95-4a48-9a5f-972a23d7fc54 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9031/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9031/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">The Dixie Chicks, 1902 version. Attractive box made by D. Eisner, 404 Clay St., San Francisco in<br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">Fact. 26, 1st CA, and sold in Colusa.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9031]</p></div></div> SULTANA Box canceled 1891 was made in Factory 309, 1st Calif, which is unlisted in 1886 and 1893, suggesting it was very short-lived, typical of cigar factories and many other businesses. [9030] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#12 f6d05322-e74a-491e-89d8-e2536cb69d74 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9030/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9030/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8"><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">SULTANA </span> Box canceled 1891 was made in Factory 309, 1st Calif, which is unlisted in 1886 and 1893, suggesting it was very short-lived, typical of cigar<br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">factories and many other businesses.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9030]</p></div></div> MATADOR Stock label with incongruent brand name added later. Cigars made in Chinese factory owned by Hing Yee at 649 Clay St. in San Francisco, whose company is listed in 1893, not in 1886. [9032] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#13 69abf2f0-38cd-48b2-abf7-1aeb2d4d7ecb http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9032/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9032/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">MATADOR<span class="style_12"> </span><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9"> Stock label with incongruent brand name added later.  Cigars made in Chinese factory owned by Hing Yee at 649 Clay St. in San Francisco, whose company is listed in 1893, not in 1886.</span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9032]</p></div></div> VALLE Y SUAREZ Important Cuban company, makers of FLOR DE CUBA and JOCKEY CLUB in Havana. Did they own this factory or license the name or were they victims of identity-theft. San Francisco factory 380 in 1881. [9033] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#14 b2ae57b3-8bad-46e6-a7cb-5a877c0dcd37 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9033/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9033/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_11"><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_11">VALLE Y SUAREZ</span> <span class="style_12"> Important Cuban company, makers of </span><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_11">FLOR DE CUBA </span><span class="style_12">and</span><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_11"> JOCKEY CLUB</span><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_13"> </span><span class="style_12">in Havana. Did they own this factory or license the name or were they victims of identity-theft. <br/></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_11"><span class="style_12">San Francisco factory 380 in 1881.</span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9033]</p></div></div> BOUQUET DE TOBACOS de F. PEREZ DEL RIO. One of 1870’s Cuba’s more important makers licensed factories in San Francisco, including numbers 71, 175 and 349 to make his brands. [9066] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#15 f9b3dc7d-3c15-4a37-95fa-4039c928582d http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9066/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9066/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">BOUQUET DE TOBACOS de F. PEREZ DEL RIO.<span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9"><br/></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_9"><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">One of 1870’s Cuba’s more important makers licensed factories in San Francisco, including numbers 71, 175 and 349 to make his brands.</span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9066]</p></div></div> LA ESTRELLA The original, one of the few brands famous enough to have coast to coast distribution. Cigars by Eduardo H. Gato, Fact. 38, Key West, Florida, in the very early 1890s. [9044] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#16 2a3142d7-ab0c-48cb-a1c9-1b0438a230ed http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9044/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9044/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8"><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">LA ESTRELLA </span> The original, one of the few brands famous enough to have coast to coast distribution. Cigars by Eduardo H. Gato, Fact. 38, Key West, Florida, in the very early 1890s.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9044]</p></div></div> LA ESTRELLA boxes showing a selection of the vitolas (front marks) sold in Colusa. [9050] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#17 c6e1e3f9-fd53-492f-bef5-f5886e9de4b9 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9050/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9050/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8"><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">LA ESTRELLA</span> boxes showing a selection of the <span class="style_14">vitolas</span> (front marks) sold in Colusa.  <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9050]</p></div></div> FLOR DE MANUEL GARCIA was made in Key West, Florida, by Sideman, Lachman & Co. in their Factory 157, FL, bonded for 100 rollers. [9036] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#18 d8368c9d-7ea3-4017-bf8b-b0a9fe9bb7e6 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9036/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9036/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">FLOR DE MANUEL GARCIA <span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">was made in Key West, Florida, by Sideman, Lachman & Co. in their<br/></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_9"><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">Factory 157, FL, bonded for 100 rollers.</span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9036]</p></div></div> OPTIMO A. Santaella y Ca.’s long lived brand was among those rescued from Colusa. c1907. Factory 114, Tampa, Florida. [9034] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#19 e697919a-21fc-4e23-bd09-b77314819be8 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9034/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9034/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">OPTIMO<span class="style_12"> </span><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9"> A. Santaella y Ca.’s long lived brand was among those rescued from Colusa. c1907.</span><br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">Factory 114, Tampa, Florida.  <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9034]</p></div></div> Another Florida cigar, made for Seidenberg & Co. in the factory of Fernandez, Wodiska & Ca. (that later became Corral Wodiska, famous maker of BERING.) Fact. 8, Tampa, Florida. 1898. [9041] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#20 44d514c1-f95e-4cbb-960e-c3df2bc9d319 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9041/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9041/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Another Florida cigar, made for Seidenberg & Co. in the factory of Fernandez, Wodiska & Ca. (that later became Corral Wodiska, famous maker of <span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">BERING.</span>)<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Fact. 8, Tampa, Florida. 1898.   [9041]</p></div></div> One of many brands with this name, these were made by Cook, Strickland & Co., a Binghamton, NY factory that rolled 90,000 cigars a day. Fact. 548, 21st Dist. Open in 1886, shut down by 1893. [9053] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#21 e13f4b82-b6c3-47ba-960d-39b7f500a49e http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9053/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9053/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">One of many brands with this name, these were made by Cook, Strickland & Co., a Binghamton, NY factory that rolled 90,000 cigars a day. Fact. 548, 21st Dist. Open in 1886, shut down by 1893.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9053]</p></div></div> Cuban scene, nail tag reads: Juan Enriquez Cerrojo but the cigars were made in the 200 roller factory of Boltz-Clymer Co., 15th & Lehigh in Philadelphia. Factory Number 2715, 1st Dist. PA 1898. [9056] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#22 fc3f9c13-9903-4054-80e2-ae887e81da0e http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9056/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9056/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Cuban scene, nail tag reads: Juan Enriquez Cerrojo but the cigars were made in the 200 roller factory<br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">of Boltz-Clymer Co., 15th & Lehigh in Philadelphia.<br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">Factory Number 2715, 1st Dist. PA  1898.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9056]</p></div></div> No surprise to find giant cigar maker Kerbs, Wertheim & Schiffer’s heavily advertised GENERAL ARTHUR among the brands being sold in 1897. Made in Fact. 1116, 3rd New York City. [9060] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#23 5db2533e-8ea5-41e8-a2c5-5db4566dab5d http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9060/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9060/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">No surprise to find giant cigar maker Kerbs, Wertheim & Schiffer’s heavily advertised <span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">GENERAL ARTHUR</span><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_11"> </span>among the brands being sold in 1897. Made in Fact. 1116, 3rd New York City.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9060]</p></div></div> Robert Mantell joined the ranks of hundreds of stage actors and actresses honored with a cigar box appearance. Cigars made by T.J. Dunn & Co., 210 N. Broad St., Philadelphia mid 1890’s. [9063] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#24 6c6e9ad7-0669-4d24-a078-2e180fac0655 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9063/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9063/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Robert Mantell joined the ranks of hundreds of stage actors and actresses honored with a cigar box appearance. Cigars made by T.J. Dunn & Co.,<br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">210 N. Broad St., Philadelphia mid 1890’s.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9063]</p></div></div> Very rare Cuban H. UPMANN from 1893 with newly required hand stamped place of origin on the front. Unusual Castelares frontmark. [9075] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#25 0084eb0f-ed20-4b09-854d-9388b5675219 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9075/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9075/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Very rare Cuban <span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">H. UPMANN</span> from 1893 with newly required hand stamped place of origin on the front.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Unusual <span class="style_15">Castelares</span> frontmark. [9075]</p></div></div> Pre 1893 BOCK Y CA. El AGUILA de ORO, another important Cuban brand being smoked in Colusa. [9080] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#26 767ad729-7825-4527-a345-e77c78e6355f http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9080/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9080/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Pre 1893 <span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">BOCK Y CA</span><span class="style_15">. </span><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">El AGUILA de ORO</span><span class="style_15">, </span>another important Cuban brand being smoked in Colusa. <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9080]</p></div></div> Rare and desirable Cuban ALEXANDER HUMBOLDT brand created for the California market and annexed by Joaquin Arguelles who made the brand in the 1870’s and 80’s.. In addition to a cigar, a county and college were named for this scientist-explorer. [9070] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#27 92b84532-8abb-45a7-b023-a7a8ee8b7ba8 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9070/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9070/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Rare and desirable Cuban <span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">ALEXANDER HUMBOLDT </span>brand created for the California market<br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">and annexed by Joaquin Arguelles who <br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">made the brand in the 1870’s and 80’s..<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">In addition to a cigar, a county and college were named for this scientist-explorer. [9070]</p></div></div> Made by Tomas Diaz, this Cuban brand enjoyed international success for a few decades, including being sold in Colusa, 1887. Later (1901) made by Diaz, Valdez y Ca. [9087] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#28 9afa81a6-28f2-4e01-843c-e19724a4ac84 http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9087/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9087/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">Made by Tomas Diaz, this Cuban brand enjoyed international success for a few decades, including<br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8">being sold in Colusa, 1887. Later (1901) made by Diaz, Valdez y Ca.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9087]</p></div></div> LA TRAVIATA was a minor Cuban export brand of Fernandez, Garcia y Hijos when this was made (1901-1904). [9082] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#29 ccba2899-eaca-4799-b0e9-1f3ddb08405b http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9082/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9082/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_9">LA TRAVIATA<span class="style_12"> </span><span style="line-height: 12px; " class="style_9">was a minor Cuban export brand of Fernandez, Garcia y Hijos when this was made (1901-1904). </span><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9082]</p></div></div> LA SUPERIOR Conchas finas. The maker of this minor 1887 Cuban brand is not known. Marca contains a RC monogram. [9084] http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices.html#30 ecfedb7d-f99e-4227-8941-502f6c951a4a http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9084/thumb.jpg http://cigarhistory.info/Selling_Cigars/Small-town_choices_files/Media/colusa9084/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8"><span style="line-height: 11px; " class="style_8">LA SUPERIOR </span><span class="style_15">Conchas  finas. </span>The maker of this minor 1887 Cuban brand is not known. <br/></p><p class="paragraph_style_8"><span class="style_14">Marca </span>contains a RC monogram.<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_8">[9084]</p></div></div>