This compendium of cigar related "stuff" shows the breadth of advertising, ashtrays, matchsafes, cigar boxes, dispensers, and holders that have adorned homes and shops for 100 years and more. Today they are enjoyed by many who will find this book delightful reading.

From the end of the Civil War until the explosive popularity of the cigarette in the early twentieth century. the cigar was king. For the pleasure and convience of cigar smokers a wide variety of smoking accessories were manufactured, including cigar cutters and lighters. The cutters range from simple vest pocket models to ingenious mechanical contraptions that would occupy a prominent place on the counter of the local tobacconist. In between are beautifully sculpted Vienna bronze and wooden desk models. In many cases these are combined with lighters, to offer the smoker full-service convenience. The lighters range from alcohol dips to electric devices. They are sometimes cast as stunning figures or are elegantly formed lamps, using blown glass or pierced tin. Beautiful color photographs document these wonderful objects, accompanied by concise, informative descriptions. The text places the cutters in their historical context and contains helpful information. A value guide is included.

In the highly anticipated new volume in Assouline’s bestselling Ultimate Collection, The Impossible Collection of Cigars envisions the ultimate humidor brimming with the most remarkable cigars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries from the most prestigious makers. Like the pop of the Champagne cork, the flick of the lighter or the strike of the match and the first draw of the smoke are synonymous with celebration, relaxation, and comradery. A luxurious pause from the world around, an exceptional, hand-rolled cigar has cemented itself as a civilized passion and genteel hobby over the course of centuries.

Offers tips on identifying, collecting, and caring for furniture, photographs, posters and illustration art, costume jewelry and wristwatches, dolls, toys, advertising and sports memorabilia, and glass and pottery.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

With more and more people discovering the pleasures of a good smoke, interest in cigars has ignited, and cigar smoking has become the hottest trend of the 90s. Today, such high-profile people as Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenneger, David Letterman, and Madonna are often seen sporting stogies, and according to the Cigar Association of America 3.5 billion cigars were sold in 1995, with sales of premium cigars up an astounding 45 percent. For this growing number of aficionados comes The Handmade Cigar Collectors Guide and Journal. The rich journal pages provide space for the user to affix the cigar band and record vital statistics for the cigars they sample, such as draw, ring gauge, flavor and burn. What's more, these pages are adorned with sepia-toned images of famous cigar smokers and memorable quotes. The guide section features never-before-published information on how to locate, acquire and preserve the worlds hardest-to-find cigars, as well as color photographs of more than 20 of the most coveted handmade cigars. Beautifully designed to reflect the discriminating tastes of cigar lovers, The Handmade Cigar Collectors Guide and Journal is a keepsake that no discerning connoisseur should be without.

First published in 1993, The Ultimate Cigar Book has become a classic in its field, and is generally credited with having helped launch the current cigar smoking craze. It has been reprinted numerous times in the United States, and is now sold worldwide. No other book contains as much detailed and factual information on virtually every facet of cigar making and cigar smoking. And now this trendsetting been has been revised in this fourth edition for the aficionado of the future! Forget 1492. This book starts out in B. C. (Before Columbus) and transports the cigar enthusiast on a fun and fact-filled adventure into virtually every realm of today’s popular and growing cigar smoking pastime. Written by one of the most knowledgeable and internationally-celebrated pipe and cigar authors of our time, Richard Carleton Hacker’s well-known wit and wisdom will keep the reader enthralled with every turn of the page, as he takes you on an information-packed would tour of cigars. Starting off with a history of cigar smoking, the author then shows us how cigars are made today (handmade, handrolled, and machine made), divulges the secrets of finding the “perfect” cigar, and discusses the ritual of smoking and how to properly care for and store our cigars. From there the book lists a number of innovative cigar accessories, suggests which beers, wines, whiskeys, brandies, and cognacs go with what cigars, enlightens us with a chapter on cigar smoking celebrities, and concludes with the world’s first International Compendium of virtually every cigar brand known today, complete with histories and observations on taste, according to the author’s HPH (Highly Prejudiced Hacker-Scale) ratings. If that was not enough, there is even a dictionary of CigarSpeak! The Ultimate Cigar Book is the most comprehensive, factual, and up-to-date book for the cigar smoker or for those who just want to learn more about the fascinating and popular world of cigar smoking.