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1943 OPTIMO PANETELAS SINGLES
$45.00Founded in 1898, The Optimo brand is one the biggest and most widely known names in top-quality cigars. Handmade in Tampa Florida, every popular Optimo cigar blend is highly regarded for its rich satisfying taste and mellow aroma. Using a blend of 100% natural filler tobaccos covered with prime natural leaf wrappers, Optimo always offers a satisfying cigar smoking experience.
This box was made in 1943 as stated by the perforated 43 on the blue tax stamp. Hand made and at 12 cents each in 1943, these were premium cigars. World War II era for sure.
1945 ROYAL BANNER STANDARD SINGLES
$40.00Royal Banner was a premium brand manufactered in Detroit. Perfecto in shape they appear to have a Connecticut wrapper. This box was dated as 1945 using the tax stamp "series 115". The method below states to add one year after each series starting in 1932 with series 102. The perforated "11" on the tax stamp is for the eleventh month. Made in November 1945, these were in stores just after World War II ended (August).
FROM MYSTIC STAMP COMPANY: Cigar Revenue Tax Stamps
The first Cigar Revenue stamps were issued in 1846, with the tax rate based on the value of the cigars. A short time later, a flat tax per thousand cigars was introduced. In 1917, cigars were once again taxed according to their value. The cigars were designated Class “A” through “E,” with “E” being the most expensive. Class “F” and “G” were later added to meet the increasing cost of cigars. In 1932, a numbering system began for the Cigar Revenue Stamps, with the first series designated “102” and valid for one year before it was replaced with “Series 103.” The practice continued in subsequent years. As a consequence, “Series 123” Cigar Revenue tax stamps were issued in 1953, and so on. Cigar Revenue tax stamps were discontinued in 1959.
1947 WEBSTER CINCO PERFECTO CLEAR HAVANA SINGLES
$50.00These Perfectos were made between 1945 to 1947. They are hand made with Havana long filler, a binder from Puerto Rico and a shade grown broadleaf wrapper. Dating was done by the logo style of the band and the 10 cent price. The price increased to 11 cents in 1947 as determined by dated magazine ads. These were in stores immediately following WWII,
1948 LA UNA COUNTRY CLUB PERFECTO HAVANA SINGLES
$50.00THESE CIGARS WERE HAND MADE IN TAMPA FROM IMPORTED CUBAN TOBACCO AND WERE IN A SEALED TIN UNTIL OPENED FOR INSPECTION RECENTLY. THE DATE OF RELEASE OF 5-17-48 IS SHOWN ON THE TAX STAMP (BLUE LABEL).
1949 SOLITA PERFECTO HAVANA SINGLES
$45.00THESE CIGARS WERE MADE IN 1949 AT THE PENN CIGAR FACTORY IN JOHNSTOWN PA. THEY CONTAIN CUBAN TOBACCO AND MOST LIKELY ARE A PORTO RICO BLEND. THESE PERFECTOS ARE REALLY GOOD EXAMPLES OF PREMBARGO CIGARS. THE LINK BELOW SHOWS THE PENN FACTORY MACHINES IN ACTION AND THE SOLITA BOX AT THE END.
PENN CIGAR VIDEO LINK: CLICK HERE
1950’s TAMPA NUGGET TIP CIGARILLOS 5 PACK
$40.00These cigarillos were made by the HAVATAMPA cigar company. Story goes; HAVATAMPA did not advertise that the cigars they made had Havana tobacco simply because they contained less than the required 20% of Havana. Instead they used the name of the company to imply the content. Dating was done by the lack of zipcode on the package.
1950s TROYA UNIVERSALES HABANA SINGLES
$60.00Troya is a brand of premium Cuban cigars that has been enjoyed by aficionados around the world for over a century. The brand was first established in 1885 by Jose Rocha, a tobacco grower and cigar maker from the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba. Over the years, Troya has gained a reputation for producing some of the finest cigars in the world, thanks to the exceptional quality of the tobacco and the skill of their craftsmen. This box was freshly opened and is dated to the 1950s by the presence of the Cuban seal (green) which was used from 1931 to 1961. The band is a pre-1960s release according to the cubancigarwebsite. It may be older but I am being conservative.
For a good review of this cigar please visit the web link for Halfwheel below:
1954 AGIO GOLDEN HARVEST PETIT PERFECTO SINGLES
$30.00Agio Gouden Oogst is a traditional cigar made in the Netherlands. It was brought to the market in 1954 to celebrate Agio’s 50 year existence. When WWII ended in 1945, and the limitations placed upon the brand were finally lifted. In 1950, Wintermans formally changed their name to Agio. Then, in 1954, in honor of their 50th anniversary, they launched this Golden Harvest cigar.
1960’s DIPLOMATES BOX OF 25
$200.00This cigar was a favorite of Fleming's James Bond. Made in France.
1960’s TAMPA CUBS GEMS FULL BOX OF 50
$400.00Fendrich Cigar Company (also known as La Fendrich and, more correctly H. Fendrich) was a cigar factory in Evansville, Indiana, founded and owned by notable Fendrich family. The factory was shut in 1969. Prior history: in 1855 the company headquarters moved to 21 Main St. in Evansville. New factory complex opened in 1912, and Fendrich Cigar Company had around 1,500 employees at that time.
This box is pre 1964 when the zip code was introduced. The lack of a zip code and the 5 cent price was used in dating this product. Binder is HTL with short filler.
1960’s UNION PACIFIC PANETELA SINGLES
$15.00If you rode in the dining or luxury cars on the Union Pacific railways back in the day you would have seen these cigars. They were made especially for the railroad by the House of Windsor in PA.
1960s BERING CZARS SINGLES
$45.00Corral-Wodiska & Cia. was a cigar manufacturer of fine cigars in Tampa from 1905 to 1985.Their first cigar brands were Bering and Julie Marlow, a beautiful and famous New York actress and friend of Wodiska. These cigars are circa 1964 are 100% tabacco, hand made of long filler and a candela wrapper. The name “Bering”, Corral-Wodiska's best known brand of cigars, can still be seen on the side of the Tampa building. In 1985, Corral, Wodiska & Cia. was bought by Swisher International, Inc., makers of Swisher Sweets who consolidated its manufacturing processes and sent Bering cigar production to Honduras, where they are still manufactured to this day.
1961 HASS AND DERST P.B. IMPERIALS TUBO SINGLES
$30.00Made in Germany prior to 1961 when Hass and Derst became Hannemann.