Cigar Box Label, American Citizen, George Washington & American Eagle, Outer Label, Gilded Lithograph, NOS, Key West Florida, Antique, 1899-1910

There are very few objects that connect you directly to a specific moment in history. This is one of them.

This original American Citizen cigar box label was printed in the years immediately following the Spanish-American War of 1898 — when patriotism was running high and cigar makers knew exactly what their customers wanted to feel holding a box of cigars.

The label is a masterwork of lithographic design. George Washington stands against a shield of stars and stripes, flanked by laurel branches — the ancient symbol of victory and honor bestowed upon military heroes since the days of ancient Rome. Above the shield, the American eagle holds golden arrows. Every element is intentional, every detail gilded and embossed with the confidence of a nation that had just asserted itself on the world stage. This is an outer label — designed to be the first thing you saw when you picked up the box.

Printed by George W. Nichols & Co. of Key West, Florida — one of the most prominent cigar makers in Key West by 1899, founded circa 1868. Little else is known about the company, which makes every surviving piece of their ephemera that much more rare. This label is an original, not a copy or reproduction — New Old Stock, never used, in pristine condition. Light tanning on the reverse only — the face is vivid and pristine after over 125 years.

Frame it for a study, a home office, a patriotic display, or as part of a collection celebrating America's 250th anniversary. At 4.75 inches square it fits a standard 5x5 or 6x6 frame. Two available.

A wonderful gift for a patriotic home decorator, a George Washington collector, a tobacciana collector, a Florida history enthusiast, or anyone who appreciates American history rendered in extraordinary commercial art.

George Washington (1732–1799) was the commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, the presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention, and the first President of the United States, serving two terms from 1789 to 1797. He is universally regarded as the Father of His Country — a title earned not only through his military and political leadership but through his voluntary relinquishment of power, setting the democratic precedent that defined the American presidency for centuries to follow. His portrait has appeared on the US dollar bill since 1869.

• Subject: George Washington, 1st President of the United States
• Issued by: George W. Nichols & Co., Key West, Florida
• Type: Cigar box outer label
• Dated: circa 1899–1910
• Dimensions: 4.75" square
• Material: Paper, lithograph, gilded and embossed
• Condition: New Old Stock (NOS) — unused, pristine. Light tanning on reverse only — face vivid and pristine. Please review all photos carefully — we cannot accept returns.
• Framing: Fits a standard 5x5 or 6x6 frame — ready to display
• Quantity: 2 available