Cigarette Cases

There was once a nearly universal allure to the glitzy cigarette case. On the movie screen it was Marlene Dietrich or Humphrey Bogart types handling the gleaming silver cigarette case.

History suggests they were just as popular in the "real world" during the first half of the 20th century. They were seen in the fashion circles of New York, sold in corner drug stores and in mail order catalogs, and even carried by British royalty like Princess Margaret.

During World War II, there were stories of metal cigarette cases stopping a bullet from piercing the body of a soldier. One of the better known persons who told of the life saving experience was James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty on Star Trek.

The obvious health hazards of smoking not withstanding, the cigarette case has a distinguished past and an appealing presence. Some experts suggest that the cigarette case simply followed the cigar case in that cigarettes became popular, but still benefited from a stylish case.

Others disagree and note that Peter Carl Faberge made lavish gold and gem-covered cigarette cases in the late 19th century. Faberge was, of course, much better known for his equally lavish Easter eggs for Russian royalty

A Faberge cigarette case might also be made of silver as well. It might have reeded ends and a flourish of leaves, plus a polished sapphire for good measure.

Some such pieces were marked Moscow. Other elegant Russian-made cigarette cases of the 1890s might also be marked Moscow or St. Petersburg.

Typically, they were rectangular silver treasures with rounded corners and some enameling or further decoration. Fine examples of this era and location might be monogrammed and fitted to high-quality leather cases.

Cigarette cases were appealing to all economic levels of the marketplace in the late 19th century. The distinguished Pairpoint Manufacturing Company offered cigarette cases in 1894 of gold plate or silver plate for $5 each. Engraved cases were $6.

Meanwhile, the Montgomery Ward catalog on the following year listed 'telescope style' cigarette cases that were all leather and "vest pocket size." They were priced at 18 cents each.

By the early 1900s, elaborate and 'artsy' cigarette cases were being made not only in Russia, but France and England as well.

Russian cases of that period might feature floral and geometric enameling on both the front and back. Others might include detailed pastoral scenes along with fine stones.

A recent Skinner Inc. auction featured a 1914 Naval presentation cigarette case made in St. Petersburg. It was described as being decorated with a gold skull and crossbones over a snake with a white enameled life preserver and a green enameled frog.

It was 4 inches long and just under 3 inches wide. Inside was an inscription in Russian which translated to, "Go forward without fear and uncertainty. Go forward and fight the enemy."

The case was dated July 17, 1914. It was believed to be only one of five made for presentation by the Russian naval commodore.

Cigarette cases were quite the fashion statement in the swanky parts of the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1927, the Sears and Roebuck catalog advertised a "beautiful gift set" that included a match box and a cigarette case.

"A gift sure to please the man who smokes," it noted. "A fine quality cigarette case, heavy nickel plated, and a match box for paper matches, which has a fastener to attach to a watch chain." The box set was $2.75.

Another Sears option was a "popular flat type, nickel silver vest pocket case" that held 10 cigarettes. It was 98 cents.

In the 1930s, cigarette cases "passed from the state of mere utilitarianism to that of decorative imperiousness," observed John Mebane in the book Collecting Nostalgia.

"They not only performed their function; they imparted charm and color or at least novelty to the home and to the purse."

Aiming to fit the dapper man's inside coat pocket, cigarette case producers turned out new long shapes in the 1930s. Some measured more than 6 inches in length. They held 20 cigarettes in a single row. Smaller versions were made for ladies to hold 10 cigarettes on each side.

During the 1930s, an intiguing fictional detective named Bulldog Drummond made entertaining use of a cigarette case. Drummond was the lead crimefighting character in a number of novels, movies, and even radio shows.

Drummond's cigarette case held Turkish cigarette case held Turkish cigarettes on on side and Virginia cigarettes on the other side. Offering them to others he often muttered, "Turks on the left, Virgins on the right."

Sleek chromium-finished cases with Art Deco designs were popular in that 1930s decade; sometimes they bore color combinations of tortoise and black. Both oblong and square shapes were available to suit the stylish taste. Styles also included fold over tops which snapped shut and so-called envelope-style covers.

And any of the shining examples could be further decorated with rhinestones, imitation jade, or other gemstones.

Cigarette cases were an impressive souvenir of the world's fairs during the 1930s. Some bore the enameled 1933 fair's logo in blue background. Others in metal, wood or plastic depicted fair scenes of other related images.

Toward the 1940s, cigarette cases with engine-turned or circular designs were popular on golden bronze finishes. Although standard cases now usually held 10 to 20 cigarettes some non-supertitious manufacturers opted for cases holding 13 cigarettes.

Mebane writes of featherweight cases makers claimed to be made of "aeroplane metal" and "wafer thin" models which opened automatically when the top and bottom of the case were pressed at the same time.

Still others operated with a spring that automatically lifted up one cigarette when the metal case was opened.

There were less elaborate models in the 1940s, too. The Sears and Roebuck catalog of 1944, for example, offered a Lumareth or clear plastic case with a personalized rich gold color decal initial. It held 15 cigarettes, was 3 by 5 inches, and cost $1.50.

Their oblong cases of alligator leather in burning red or Kelly green, around 4 by 7 inches, was $3.98.

In recent years, the London Daily Telegraph has reported a resurgence of the vintage cigarette case. Apparently many in Europe are using them to hide packages of cigarettes and their accompanying warning labels.

Since 2002, a European Union director demands that health warnings cover 30 to 40 percent of the cigarette package.

One British dealer cautioned however, "in the 1920s and 1930s, men would put cases in the inner jacket pocket, but now they fit less comfortably into jeans."

Source: Robert Reed, Farm and Dairy, 4/16/2009