[Raralith]

Packaging (277-305)
Lots of cigar box **** but here are the categories.
1. Aluminum Foil Wrapping – Individual Cigar
The vogue of wrapping cigars in aluminum foil started in America in the 1920’s, but by the 1940’s had virtually been all replaced by cellophane. In Cuba, the practice was not prevalent due to the anti-machine movement in the 1920’s/30’s. Only very expensive cigars were wrapper in aluminum foils by hand.
2. Aluminum Pack
These were believed to appeared in the mid-1940’s, around the same time as aluminum tubes. The packs usually came in 5’s and were usually packed in semi plain box in 50’s or 100’s for display. These kinds of packaging were discontinued in the mid-1980’s because they looped “cheaper” than cardboard packs, were more expensive to produce, and therefore replaced by cardboard packs.
3. Aluminum Paper Foil Wrapping (Bundles in Semi Plain Boxes)
After the Revolution, some very strong cigars were wrapper in bundles inside airtight aluminum paper foil wrappings within a semi plain box. The purpose might be that these strong cigars have a tendency of fermenting vigorously after being manufactured. The air-tight packaging slows down the fermentation reducing the ammoniac smell. The cigars can also retain their strong and punchy flavors longer than other kinds of packaging, and for extremely oily cigars, might prevent the evaporation of oils. These models are believed to be discontinued in the 1960’s.
4. Aluminum Tubes
These started to appear during the mid-1940’s and by the 1950’s, they were already in common use by most manufacturers. Many people opined that tubes are not good for aging. On the contrary, Nee’s personal experience is that vintage cigars in tubes, over 30 or 40 years of age, invariably taste better than those without, when the same cigars of the same age are compared (mini “wine-in-a-bottle” effect, see Aging – Third Maturation and Packaging – Cellophane). The one distinct advantage of aluminum tubes is that they prevent the spread of beetle infestation. Cigars having beetle problems in aluminum tubes, no matter how stored, are extremely rare. This may be as the result of the lack in oxygen within the confined space. Tobacco beetles, like other insects, need adequate oxygen to maintain their metabolism. Even if a cigar in a tube is infested, it will not spread to other cigars. For people who do not have temperature and humidity controlled storage facilities, buying and storing cigars in tubes might be a good idea. The aging process might unavoidably be delayed, but it is better than having the whole inventory wiped out by beetles in no time.
5. Boite Nature
This refers to a box which is entirely made of cedar wood, has two hinges on the back, a locking mechanism, and the presence of “collars,” which are four pieces of cedar wood protruding from the four inside edges of the boxes. If the locking mechanism and/or the “collars” are not present, then the box is called “Semi-Boite Nature.”
6. Cardboard Packs
Cigars packed inside cardboard paper packaging are called Cardboard Packs. The cigars can be packed individually, and the packs are packaged within a display box made of cardboard or in a semi plain box.
7. Cellophane
Cellophane is a transparent sheet manufactured from regenerated cellupone, and was accidently invented by a Swiss chemist. It only began to be used widespread commercially after 1927 when du Pont Company researched and patented a moisture-proof form of cellophane. Mr. Zino Davidoff opined in his 1967 book that cigars “need to breathe.” Ever since then, for the past few decades, probably every cigar expert writing on the subject opines that cellophane is not good for aging and suggest removing it. But is cellophane really bad for the cigar aging? The answer can be found in 15+ years old cigars which were presented in both the cellophane and non-cellophane versions. All 15 or 20 year old Havana Cigars in cellophane happen to taste much better. It is possible that as time goes by, the oils deposited on the cellophane prevent leakage of large organic molecules and creates a mini “wine-in-a-bottle” effect. Nonetheless cellophane no doubt delays maturation. Removing cellophane accelerates the aging process, and is not an unwise decision for people who cannot wait.
8. Ceramic Jar
Ceramic jars have been used by cigars manufacturers worldwide to pack cigars since the late 18th century. Examples of the different manufacturers, dates, and ceramic jar **** are shown.
9. Glass Jar
Glass jars were common usage for packaging cigars in the 1950/60’s by various manufactured. Cigars a few decades old undisturbed in these glass jars developed a great bouquet, and might be the result of the similar aging process as “wine in a bottle.” These jars became less prevalent in the 1980’s.
10. Glass Tubes
Cigars packaged in glass tubes were quite common in the 1950’s and 1960’s, and while not clear when they appeared in Havana’s, they might have been introduced around the same time as aluminum tubes in the 1940’s. Glass tubes were probably not regarded as luxury kind of packaging, as most of these cigars were machine-made. All glass tubes were discontinued in the mid-1970’s, and are now highly sought after.
11. Luxury Cabinets
There are lots of pictures of different luxury cabinets like the “Brand of a Tree cabinet,” and H. Upmann “Caney” with some historical information.
12. Semi Boite Nature
Semi Boite Nature refers to a box made of plain cedar wood with two hinges on the back, and where the “collars” and/or a locking mechanism is not present. After the Revolution, boxes of Semi Boite Nature have a “brooch” as a locking device appearing in the mid-1960’s and are thus called Semi Boite Nature with Brooch (SBN-b).
13. Semi Plain Box
Semi Plain Boxes (SPB) are the most common kind of packaging for Havana Cigars; also called Current Boxes or Dress Boxes. The box, made of cedar wood, is covered with beautiful papers of various designs, called “trimmings,” and each having a specific name.
14. Slide Lid Box
Slide Lid Box is a box made of cedar wood which has a slide lid; commonly called “Cabinets.” The cedar wood is invariable unvarnished, with the only exceptions of Cohiba Siglo Series in which the boxes are varnished except on the bottom. Cigars packaged inside Slide Lid Boxes are tied in bundles of 25s or 50s with a silk ribbon. Cigars packaged in this form age better in the longer term versus the Semi Plain Boxes and there are two reasons suggested. 1) The cedar wood of the box contributes to the flavor of the cigars (spirits in a wooden barrel effect.) 2) The airtight box slows down the fermentation and also creates a “wine in a bottle” effect. Many people are intrigued by that there is always a piece of glacine paper wrapping the cigars in the box. The reason is for further delay of leaking of flavors as Nee was told. There are Slide Lid Boxes which accommodate one side only, are mostly expensive cigars, and are called “coffins.”
15. Tin Cans
Pictures of tin cans.
Post-Revolution Havana Cigars (359)
According to the history of the Revolution against the former corrupt Baptista regime, President Fulgencio Batista formally resigned at 3 AM, January 1st, 1959. The next day, the 26th of July Movement called for a general strike to mark the end of the old regime. January 2nd, 1959, is now accepted by most historians as the day the new Government took over power in Cuba. Cuban cigars manufactured before this day are now called pre-Revolution cigars, and all cigars manufactured on or after this day would appropriately be called post-Revolution cigars.
SEITA (458)
The French tobacco monopoly, the full name is “Societe d’Exploitation Industrelle des Tabacs Allumettes,” and was a Royal Monopoly formed in the 17th century. It was abolished during the French Revolution, re-established by Napoleon, became a limited company in 1980s,and privatized in 1995. In 1999, SEITA merged with Tabacalera S.A., the tobacco monopoly of Space, formed a new corporate named Altadis and became the largest cigar company in the world. Altadis purchased 50% of the share of Habano’s S.A. in 2000.
Totalmente a mano (471)
There are hallmarks on the bottom of Havana Cigar boxes. In English means “Totally handmade.” This appeared on the bottom of Havana cigar boxes since 1989. Boxes without this mean totally machine-made cigars
Vitolas (491)
A vitola refers to a specific shape, ring gauge and length when a cigar is made. Two cigars of the same vitola, no matter how they differ in brand, age, commercial name, whether a regular production or a Special Production, are expected to be the identical shape, ring gauge, and length. In Cuba, the Metric System is used for lengths and are listed to the nearest mm. In the Cuban cigar industry, before or after the Revolution, there are two sets of vitola names. 1) Vitolas de Galera, or factory vitolas, or production vitolas, refers o the name the factories give to certain vitola they make, despite the final products being presented to consumers might have different tobacco blends and each given an individually commercial name. 2) Vitolas de Salida, or commercial vitolas, refer to names given to the cigars when presented to the customer. The vitolas de galera are not stated in the cigar boxes and the customer is not supposed to know them. For each cigar brand, there may be more than one vitola de salida (commercial vitola) for each vitola de galera (factory vitola/production vitola).