How to Start a Cigar Box Collection
Cigar boxes are considered an art form all their own. Unlike humidors, which age cigars, cigar boxes are used solely for retail purposes. They've been in production in the United States since the 1860s and started getting innovative in the 1870s when tax officials no longer required that cigar boxes be made of wood. This led to the Golden Age of cigar box production and represents a unique era of advertising experimentation. Throughout the 20th century, cigar boxes continued to be an innovative art form, much of which can be collected today.
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Instructions
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Decide Which Type of Cigar Box to Collect
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Choose boxes by era, material or theme depicted, such as sports or politics. Boxes were often made of wood, tin, aluminum, glass, plastic and cardboard. There are many variations of markings on the boxes, from nondescript to ornate, inside and out.
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Broaden your scope when you start adding novelty cigar boxes in unique shapes, like log cabins and trucks, to your collection. These novelty items would often serve other functions once emptied. More unique novelty boxes were designed to double as jewelry boxes, lunch pails, cookie jars or games storage.
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Start collecting Depression-era cigar box guitars, which were made from cigar boxes, broom handles and wire. Learn more about these unique items at the Papa's Boxes website (see Resources below).
Start Your Cigar Box Collection
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Shop around at garage sales, swap meets and antique stores, and don't be afraid to dig through your grandmother's basement! You can also find a good selection online, along with interesting information, price guides and articles, at websites like Herz zu Herz (see Resources below).
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Maintain your collection and keep an inventory of it so you can keep track of your investment. Remember to list it on your homeowner's or apartment renter's insurance policy.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy cigar boxes from reputable sources and have the items appraised, if possible. Some auction sites, such as eBay, rank sellers by reliability and customer service.
Protect your investment by caring for your collection. Don't make any alterations or 'improvements,' such as sanding or varnishing the wood. Antique collectibles are usually more valuable in their original, pristine state.
The dates on the bottom of cigar boxes may not represent the manufacture date. To properly date a box, visit a website like the Hyman's National Cigar Museum website (see Resources below).
