Cigar Box Label, Cuban Gentleman at Plantation, Outer Label, Embossed & Gilded Lithograph, Cole Litho Chicago, NOS, Antique, 1903-1922

Gold leaf. Embossing. Full color lithography. And it was designed to go on the outside of an antique cigar box.

This is an original outer cigar box label — an antique chromolithograph from 1903–1922, produced by Cole Lithographing Co. of Chicago. The scene is as evocative as it is beautiful: a Cuban gentleman in the foreground, holding a cigar with the quiet satisfaction of a man who knows exactly what he's doing, a agricultural landscape stretching behind him in the background. The message — that these cigars come from the source, from the hands of the people who grew the tobacco — is delivered with elegance and conviction. Embossed and gilded, in pristine condition.  New Old Stock, never used. One available.

Frame it for a study, a library, a bar, a Cuban history display, or anywhere that appreciates extraordinary early 20th century commercial art. At 4.75 inches square it fits a standard 5x5 or 6x6 frame.

A wonderful gift for a tobacciana collector, a Cuban history enthusiast, a cigar aficionado, or anyone who appreciates the golden age of American commercial lithography.

Cole Lithographing Co. operated in Chicago from 1903 to 1922, producing fine paper items including certificates, bonds, and commercial labels. Like many Chicago firms of this era, they were part of what has been called the Chicago Hub — a thriving center for commercial art, fine art prints, and color lithography. Many smaller Chicago firms from this period eventually merged into larger companies, making original Cole Litho pieces increasingly rare.

• Brand: Unknown (maker not identified on label)
• Printer: Cole Lithographing Co., Chicago, Illinois
• Type: Cigar box outer label
• Made in: Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Dated: 1903–1922
• Dimensions: 4.75" square
• Material: Paper, lithograph, embossed and gilded
• Condition: New Old Stock (NOS) — unused, pristine condition. Please review all photos carefully — we cannot accept returns.
• Framing: Fits a standard 5x5 or 6x6 frame — ready to display