Art and cigars are two things that have always been intertwined. After all, the cigar itself is a work of art. Just consider the amount of time dedicated to growing, curing, fermenting and aging the tobacco. Of course, this is before the folks at the cigar factory ever get their hands on it. The second step in the process required the expertise of the master blender. It is the blender that determines the proper style and mix of tobacco. Once the blend is decided then it’s off to the next artisan, the roller.  It is now up to the torcedor to bring it all together, joining the binder and filler while finishing off things inside a perfectly rolled wrapper. In my opinion, there is no truer example of an artisan that that of a cigar roller. Although, a consistent, quality product is his/her intention, each leaf can provide a different adventure. Several different methods and techniques must be employed. Having witnessed this craft personally and attempted to roll my own cigars, I am even more impressed by their skill.

But the artwork doesn't end with the cigar—its packaging can be even more spectacular. Today there are huge numbers of collectors of all things cigar related. Whether it’s labels, cigar ad posters, decorative boxes, or just general "tobacciana," there is a large collectable market for these items.

Example of a modern cigar maker using retro art. This example, My Father Flor de las Antillas was not only visually appealing, but it was also named Cigar Aficionado's Top Cigar of 2012.

Dutch-born, Cuban cigar merchant Gustave Bock is credited with being the first to band his cigars. It was a way for him to make his cigars stand out and to prove authenticity. These first bands were very simple and plain, much different that most of the ones we see on the market today. Gustave simply wrapped a plain paper band in the cigars then applied his signature. Consumers could be guaranteed that they were buying his genuine Havanas only if they were adorned with a band with his name on it. Stone Lithography, and more specifically Chromolithography, ushered in the Golden Age of cigar art from 1890 through 1920. The cigar labels, boxes, and advertising posters that were created during this "golden age" are the most sought after today--and the advent of cheaper and more mass-production methods that ended this era.

So what exactly is Stone Lithography? It was a low tech method of using large stones as presses. The weight, in conjunction with some basic chemical reactions, enabled artwork to be duplicated. Chromolithography was an updated method which also used weight and chemical etching, but allowed for more detail and color to be transferred. For an image to be composed of multiple colors, it required a different stone for each color. Although the stones were heavy, they were also very fragile, thus making this an expensive process. Because the process was difficult and the stones rapidly deteriorated after use, there are not a lot of surviving pieces from this era. Some simple advertising posters that were given away free to merchants can fetch thousands on the collectables market.

Example of an A Hoen and Company lithograph

There were many great lithographers who appeared during this time. Louis Prang is often considered one of the fathers of Chromolithography, as it was he who printed the first American Christmas card. Prang, a German-born artist, reproduced many of the day’s most famous paintings, despite criticism from the artists of his time. He believed that his processes afforded all classes of people the opportunity to own fine art.

German immigrant August Hoen was also a key figure in the history of cigar art. Hoen patented a process known as lithocaustic, and his firm, A. Hoen & Company, was one of the most prominent print companies of its time. Their advertising art is prized by collectors today.

If posters, labels, and cigar bands aren't your style of collectable art, you can own other forms of tobacciana. Cigar store Indians are highly prized and can easily set you back several thousand dollars. Although our modern culture may classify these to be offensive, they were actually created to pay homage to the Native Americans. Remember it was they who introduced the visiting Europeans to the wonderful world of tobacco. If you don't have a spot for full-sized version, there are small scale reproductions that won't hit you quite as hard in the wallet.

Vintage lighters and cutters are also hot ticket items for the tobacco fan; just remember they are antiques, so using them for their original purpose may be hazardous. Treat them as ornaments and display pieces. Old fuel cells and dull cutters are just accidents waiting to happen.

As you can see, there is a lot of art surrounding that wonderful little stick of tobacco. And although the "golden age" of cigar advertising may be over, there are still many cigar makers that still adhere to the artistic roots of their forebears. There are many ornate boxes and labels on the market today, some rival the style and sophistication of the cigar art of old. It's never too late to start collecting, even if it’s just cigar boxes. And of course, the best thing about collecting cigar boxes is emptying them out one smoke at a time.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney. Follow me on Twitter, @chrisgnole