For close to a decade, Charlie Humber’s discovery and documentation of the forgotten stories hidden beneath century-old wooden cigar box lids continues. In 2018, the initial volume of his series, headlined Cigar Box Lithographs: The Inside Stories Uncovered, “sparked” Charlie’s widely embraced, six-volume series that has attracted a dedicated following both in Canada and abroad. In the latest volume of his acclaimed series, Charlie spiritedly delves into a timely topic: serenading the alluring history of America’s Indigenous Peoples. As with his five previous volumes, he pays homage to historical times. Story by story, he utilizes cigar box lithographs as his guideposts to reach his principal objective.

Cigar Box Lithographs Vol. 5 is a collection of stories from Canada’s past, which the author tells past using century-old cigar box lithographs as his guideposts. His collection of books, of which this is fifth in a series, pay homage to the heritage and culture of this country that have been largely neglected in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven society. Similar to its precursors, in Volume V readers are once again treated to Humber’s chatty, erudite writing style; reading it no doubt makes Cigar Box Lithographs fans feel like they’re sitting down with a treasured friend enjoying a long and fascinating conversation.

Cigar Box Lithographs: Volume IV, written and compiled by Charles J. A. Humber, the fourth in a series showcases the author’s longtime passion for tobacco-related collectibles. Like the previous volumes, this beautifully illustrated book is a historical window into the world of cigar box ephemera. In the newest edition, Humber starts off in his signature style, with a deep dive into a rare collectible. In this case, it’s a cigar box, the inside cover emblazoned with the beloved Bard. Humber delves into the cigar box’s provenance (New York), then quickly shifts to Shakespeare’s enduring cachet, speaking about his plays, sonnets, and Ontario’s famous Stratford Festival. Also similar to its precursors, in Volume IV readers are once again treated to Humber’s chatty, erudite writing style; reading it no doubt makes Cigar Box Lithographs fans feel like they’re sitting down with a treasured friend enjoying a long and fascinating conversation.

Just as this publication was ready for the printer, a very rare cigar box was listed on an internet auction site. Recognizing its rarity and extraordinary appeal, a decision was made to bid on it with the hopes of purchasing it. As author, I won. But I also knew that it was too late to include this Davy Crockett cigar box alongside the more than 100 other cigar boxes already headlined and profiled in this particular 200-page volume. After winning the bid a final decision was made to illustrate this cigar box on the back cover of this production. In so doing readers have a chance to scrutinize a very rare and a one-of-a-kind cigar box. Of course, any cigar box that lithographically headlines Davy Crockett usually identifies the famous American frontiersman with the Alamo (see this Volume, page 114) and how he and 200 Texans were killed in 1836 by Santa Anna’s 1500 strong Mexican forces. A wide-spread interest in Davy Crockett ever since has become the norm. Tennessee Ernie Ford popularized him in 1955 with his hit “The Battle of Davy Crockett”. John Wayne immortalized Davy Crockett when he played the famous frontiersman in the 1960 Hollywood blockbuster, The Alamo. The stunning lithographic print on the inside lid of a wooden cigar box made by William Simpson of Massachusetts, circa 1900, now highlights this back cover of this book and demonstrates the ultimate bravery of a young Davy Crockett protecting individuals inundated with a blizzard and petrified of wolves trying to push their way into the pioneer Log Cabin (see this Volume, pages 108- 109) that the legendary frontiersman is valiantly guarding and resolutely defending. This Davy Crocket lithographic print is one of the highlight prints of the book....

CIGAR BOX LITHOGRAPHS: The Inside Stories Uncovered is a thought-provoking production exposing its readership to more than 160 vintage cigar boxes manufactured during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most convey stunning litho- graphs that portray prominent historical figures. Such cigar boxes during the 19th century attracted a massive smoking cliental numbering in the millions.... While puffers more than one hundred years ago likely recognized the prominent personalities peering at them from the inside labels of these wooden cigar boxes, those same headlined names, today, are now essentially erased from memory. Lew Wallace (1827- 1905), portrayed in this stunning portrait label, is virtually a forgotten name today. World-famous during his day, he was not only a Major General during the Civil War but became more famous when he wrote what some consider to be the best-selling novel of the 19th century. His Ben Hur (see page 34), a novel that was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster winning a record eleven Oscars in 1959, was certainly the most read and the best-known book title during the 20th century, that is, until it was superseded by Gone with the Wind in the 1930s. By examining the cartouche to the left of this stunning label portrait, one detects Wallace’s role as a General during the Civil War, especially at the Battle of Shiloh. The cartouche to the right of his portrait details his writing studio in Crawfordsville, Indiana. This is where his most famous novel was written. Cigar boxes from the past often became an educational platform inadvertently recording and preserving history. To this day, this nearly 120-year old collectible cigar container whispers its provocative past, that is, providing one takes time out to lift its lid and peer at the lithographic image waiting to be re-discovered or uncovered.... Peer long enough and the box just might whisper its past to you.