History of Tobacco
Tobacco Paradise
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Many people believe that tobacco had been smoked on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as early as the First Century. The Mayans were known to smoke tobacco as well as use it in their religious ceremonies. It was smoked thru the nostrils, using hollow "Y" shaped pieces of cane. And in the last few years many theories abound about who really discovered America, but Christopher Columbus retains credit for introducing tobacco to Europe after his voyage of 1492. Columbus is believed to have seen natives smoking raw twisted leaves of cured tobacco rolled in corn husks (White Owls?). Commercial cultivation started in the West Indies in the mid 1500's and later to Spain. Spain maintained this monopoly until the 1600 when the Portuguese, Dutch and English started their own plantations in the new world. The first smokes that we might recognize as cigars were made in Seville Spain in the early 18th century, these were very expensive ( remember the mid 90's) and were smoked only by the wealthy. A Royal Decree created a tobacco monopoly in 1740 Spain. The company was named "Real Compania de Comercio de la Habana". Some time in the mid 18th Century cigars were exported to Russia. Then ruled by "Catherine the Great", Known for her love of mayhem, men and horses, picked up the habit of smoking cigars but, being the fastidious type disliked the yellow stains left on her dainty bloodstained hands. Voilą!! — she had silk strips wrapped around her cigars, thus bringing us cigar bands! Later on, in 1821; years after cigar manufacturing had reached France and Germany the English Parliament passed a law governing the manufacture of "segars". This was necessary , do to the demand for Spanish style "segars" from the English soldiers returning from war on the Iberian Peninsula. In the next few years the demand for cigars was outstripping the demand for pipes in Europe. In spite of the increase in European cigar factories, the demand for cigars, which were now a status symbol, out paced the their ability to produce good cigars. Soon the demand for Cuban cigars exceed even those for "Sevillas Segars" as the popular Spanish version was called. The production of cigars was a Spanish state monopoly (as it is today) but a royal decree in 1821 allowed the Cubans a free hand. Production soared and soon even the Spanish Throne was getting their cigars from Cuba. Even today, King Juan Carlos receives a yearly Stipend of cigars from Cuba. This used to be Castro’s Cohiba, but recently it has been replaced by a box of 100 unique Trinidad cigars. To this day Spain is the largest importer of Cuban cigars in the world.
Near the end of of the 1800's and beginning of the 1900's new shapes began to appear. Mostly inspired by British smokers. Some of these are: The Rothschild and 4½ x 50 cigar named for Leopold de Rothschild who commissioned the Hobo de Monterey factory to him a short cigar which would deliver rich flavor without having to smoke a large cigar. Also the Earl of Lonsdale commissioned his own cigars in a distinctive length and shape in a box with his portrait. Much as a later Englishman who shall remain semi-nameless is credited with the 7 x 50 cigar of today. In the middle 1800's Hotels and clubs began opening smoking rooms ( where I’m sure cigarette and cigar smokers bitched about each other daily) and trains introduced the smoking car. Smoking jackets and skull caps in bright colors were introduced ( by the American Cancer Society?) To obviate the aroma of smoke of clinging to street clothes. The dinner jacket, or tuxedo, is called "Le Smoking" in French-speaking countries to this very day. Queen Victoria ( first director of the heart and lung ass.) was one of anti-smoking’s most active leaders. " Her" son (maybe) King Edward VII a closet cigar smoker (Bill Clinton) became famous after her death for his after dinner pronouncement "Gentlemen you may smoke". The British were so happy King Edwards are one of their best selling cigars.
America’s early tobacco plantations were basically growing pipe tobacco until, cigars were introduced to the good old US of A in 1762 by a British Naval officer, Colonel Israel Putnam, who brought some cigars and tobacco back form Cuba. Although he became a general during the Revolutionary war, his claim to fame is that he started the cigar trade here. It wasn’t long before cigar factories were established in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. The famous Stogies were made in a town in Pennsylvania called Conestoga (didn’t they make some wagons too?).
Tune in next issue(?) And read more terror tales of the demon seed!!
Or you could just sit back, relax and.......
"gentlemen you may smoke"