Charles Appleton Longfellow went to see Cuba several times during his travels, and on at least two of those occasions he toured cigar and cigarette factories in Havana, writing in March of 1875 “Next morning we visited the cigar factories, and strolled about the streets.” The tobacco industry in Cuba expanded rapidly in the early nineteenth century, and by the mid-1800s Cuban tobacco products were acquiring a reputation as some of the finest in the world.
One of the most famous Cuban factories was La Honradez, which produced the box pictured above. The box, dating to the late 19th century, held 500 cigarettes and was probably purchased by Charles Longfellow on one of his visits. It is made of cloth covered wood with decorative cording on the top and a red paper-lined interior. The underside of the lid features an example of the colorful labels the brand became so well known for wrapping its cigars and bundles of cigarettes.
The La Honradez factory, founded in 1853, was among the first to utilize steam powered machinery, and at its height was producing over two million cigarettes a day. By the time of Longfellow’s visits to Cuba in the 1870s and 1880s, cigarettes had become a more popular way to consume tobacco in Havana than were cigars. La Honradez cigarettes were regarded as somewhat of a luxury item and were more expensive than other brands. The La Honradez factory was also a tourist destination for people visiting Havana and was renowned for having its own print shop that produced lithographed labels with colorful images used to market the cigarettes. At one point, visitors were asked to sign in at the beginning of the tour, and then after an extensive exploration of the factory they were presented with a pack of cigarettes printed with their own name on the wrapper as a souvenir.
The production of tobacco products is not without controversy, as knowledge of the potential and proven harmful effects of smoking become more widespread. It is still an important part of Cuban culture, and crucial to the island’s economy. Tobacco products, especially cigars, still make up about 17 percent of Cuban exports. They are still highly sought after by aficionados, and it appears that Charles Longfellow was a collector to some degree.