Tobacciana Collectibles.

[TommyBB]

This from the Fort Myers FloridaWeekly

Smoking was an important part of the life of a well-to-do gentleman in the 19th century. A cigar after dinner was routine. Smoking paraphernalia was created not only to be useful but also to show off wealth. Collectors today still search for all kinds of tobacco-related items, although smoking has lost favor. Pipes, ashtrays, cigar holders, lighters, cigarette or cigar cases, cigarette or cigar boxes, cigarette dispensers and smoking stands are collected.

Some collectors want commercial packaging and advertising, including cigar box labels and wooden boxes, packs of matches, cigar bands, cigarettes packs, trade cards for tobacco products, cut-out newspaper and magazine ads, large posters and other store ads, and store cigar lighters and cabinets. Many items sell for under $50, but some "tobacciana" collectibles are very expensive. Chrome, plastic, glass or porcelain match and cigarette urns, jewel studded gold or silver cigarette cases, sterling cigarette boxes for the table and bronze ashtrays by famous makers sell to collectors of fine arts.

Cigars stood in the holes in the . center of this sterling silver cigar accessory. The urn at the top is a lighter. The piece was made by Edward Moore for Tiffany & Co. and sold for $13,750 at a Sotheby's auction in New York.
One unusual piece from about 1860 is a silver cigar lighter and holder made by Tiffany & Co. The top part is an urnshaped cigar lighter held by two figures of Hercules. Below that is a pierced tray made to hold cigars. Chains, embossed heads and other decorations make the 10 1/2-inch-high lighter an impressive table ornament. It was a gift to New York banker Charles Christmas from his partner, August Belmont, who became chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1860. Probably because it is a "crossover" collectible wanted by buyers of four types of collections — tobacco, political, unusual silver and work by Tiffany & Co. — it sold for $13,750 at a Sotheby's auction.