Dating_Canadian

Canadian cigar stamps first appear in 1864 and were used until 1974, when Canada became the last country to quit using tax stamps on packages of cigars.

As in the U.S., the five most prevalent denominations are 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 but Canadian stamps are also occasionally issued in 2, 3. 4, 6, 8, 20. 30, 200 and 500.

New designs were issued less frequently than in the U.S. making Canadian stamps much less useful than their U.S. counterparts which for 30 years changed annually.

The Canadian excise tax stamp issues of 1883, 1897, 1915, 1922 and Series C (used 1935-1960) are those most likely to be found on Canadian cigar boxes. Stamps do not absolutely date Canadian boxes because cigar makers were allowed to continue using up stock-on-hand after new stamps were issued, often forestalling the printing of some denominations for many years after the laws changed.

This exhibit includes many Canadian excise and import tax issues you are unlikely to ever see on a box. Pre-1890 Canadian cigar production was low (less than New York), plus the Canadian Inland Revenue Act of 1880 sternly warned retailers to destroy cigar boxes that have traces of a Canadian tax stamp. Law-abiding literalists made early Canadian boxes very scarce today.

Once you have dated your box, to identify the maker of the cigars go here.

Dating Canadian Caution Notices

based on research provided by Dr. Sheldon Posen, Curator,

Canadian Museum of Civilization and his consultants.

The Canadian Inland Revenue Act of 1880 contained no requirement for a Caution Notice or ID similar to those required in the U.S. after 1868. The Act did contain strict stipulations about removing the revenue stamp and destroying boxes that had traces of a stamp. Law-abiding literalists made early Canadian boxes very scarce today.

Caution notices were introduced in 1883 by Inland Revenue, 46 Vict., Chapter 15.

The wording of the law and the Caution Notice is close (but not identical) to the 1880 U.S. version of the law.

267. Every manufacturer of cigars shall securely affix by pasting on each package containing cigars manufactured by or for him a label, on which shall be printed the number of his manufactory, and the number of the Inland division in which his manufactory is situated, and these words: “Notice: —The manufacturer of the cigars herein contained has complied with all the requirements of the law. Every person is directed to open this package in such a manner as to break the stamp, and is cautioned not to use either this package for cigars again, or the stamp thereon, nor to remove the contents of this package without destroying the said stamp, under the penalties provided by law in such cases.”

The law was rewritten in 1890, changing the wording of the Caution Notice, numbering each provision, thus making it distinctly different from that on U.S. made boxes of cigars. The new wording went into effect in July, 1891, but was permitted any time after November 1890. Canadian boxes with the earlier version Caution Notices are seldom found today.

p. 33. Sec. 92. The law provides that ‘every manufacturer of cigars shall securely affix, by pasting on each box containing cigars manufactured by or for him a label, on which shall be printed, besides the number of the manufactory, and the number of the division in which it is situated,’ a caution notice in the form and wording to be prescribed by departmental regulation.

The following form of caution notice is prescribed for use on cigar boxes:—

‘Factory, No. …………Inland Revenue Division No…………… [after 1921 “Port”]

Notice: The manufacturer of the Cigars herein contained has complied with all the requirements of the law. The following caution is to be strictly observed under the penalties provided by the Statutes of Canada:—

1st. This package is to be opened in such a manner as to break the Stamp.

2nd. The package is not to be used again when the present contents are removed.

3rd. The contents are not to be removed except for immediate sale; and

4th. When the package is empty the stamp and package must both be destroyed.

Sec. 93. This label for all cigar boxes is to be not less than three inches in length and two inches in width; or if made in circular or oval form, it shall cover not less than six square inches of paper and be of a size sufficient to contain, in addition to the caution notice prescribed in plain, open, and legible letters, these facts: (1) the number of the manufactory, and (2) the number of the Inland Revenue Division.

Later in the Act, factory identifications similar to those required in the U.S. since the 1860’s were introduced:

Article 9

Sec. 166 The law provides that there shall be burned, stamped, indented, or impressed into every box containing cigars, in a legible and durable manner, the registered number of the factory, the number of the Inland Revenue Division in which the factory is situated, and the number of cigars contained in each box: the number of cigars contained in each box may, however, if desired, be stenciled on the surface of the wood or other material of which the package is made; but the registered number of the factory, and the number of the Inland Revenue Division, must be burned, stamped, indented, or impressed into every box, as required by law …

Boxes with 1883 stamps (1883-1897) are found with both early and later Caution Notice wordings on paper labels. Boxes with 1883 stamps are also found with Caution Notices printed directly on the box as a result of a law change some time during the late 1880’s or early 1890’s. All Canadian cigar boxes with 1897 stamps have their Caution Notices directly printed on the box. Direct printing of the Caution Notice was not allowed in the U.S. until 1910.

Caution Notices in Canada were no longer required sometime between 1934 and 1939, possibly at the same time Series C revenue stamps were introduced in 1935.

Canadian tax officials were flexible regarding decorative borders around Caution Notices, unlike the U.S. where size and form were specified exactly after 1910. Decorative elements include horseshoes, maple leaf, beaver, elk, chains and fleur de lys as well as various geometric figures.

For a list of Canadian tax stamps I seek, click here and scroll to the end.

If you have Canadian tax stamps to sell or donate please write <tony@CigarHistory.info>

1864 Excise & customs issues

This approximately four inch square first issue mentions “Stock on hand prior to August 1st, 1864.” This and other pre-1910 Canadian revenues turn up in unused mint condition. It is believed, tho no direct evidence supports the contention, that tax officials sold stamps at face value to collectors until the early 1940’s. An alternate legend says a single collector purchased a ‘warehouse full’ of obsolete stamps in the early 20th century.

The customs stamp for 1864 is a similar square printed in blue. Text differs slightly, includes the word “Port” followed by space for port to be handwritten or stamped.

Customs stamp not in NCM collection. Seen through the courtesy of Chris Ryan and John Harper.

1864 Issue, later printings

Later printings drop the reference to Stocks on Hand and are seen with and without the “Warehouse Entry” line. For reasons not entirely clear early Canadian excise and import stamps were issued in more than one size and shape. Diamonds of the same size and design but different wordings were used for both excise and customs stamps.

Stamp on right not in NCM collection. Seen through the courtesy of Chris Ryan and John Harper.

1868 - 1869 - 1870 - 1873 - 1874 - 1876 - 1880 Excise & Customs issues

Between 1868 and 1880, various strip and

square excise and customs stamps were

issued. Excise were black or orange and

customs in blue. The 1869 Customs below

has a black 20” long excise counterpart.

Central A (right) marks the Customs issue

of 1873 and Excise issue of 1874

The letter B appears on the issue of 1876.

1868 and later issues are imprinted

“31 Vict.” rather than “27 & 28 Vict.”

Square Customs stamps were issued in 1868 and in a more elaborate form in 1869. You are unlikely to ever find these very rare pre-1880 Canadian stamps on boxes. For details on the many minor changes during that time, visit Cigar Stamp Notes.

Stamp on right seen through the courtesy of Chris Ryan and John Harper.

1881 Excise & customs strips

In 1881, a new design was created. Stamps were issued blank as well as imprinted with the I.R.D. in which taxes were paid. Different rates were charged based on the origin of the tobacco used, the color of the stamps indicating the tax and tobacco origin. Green indicated cigars made of all domestic tobacco, black was used for cigars made in Canada of imported tobacco. Between 1881 and 1883 red stamps were used on cigars going into bonded warehouses with duty unpaid. Blue remained the color for imported cigars, but the stamp had a slightly different design, including the words “Canada Customs” in an arc. This is the last Canadian stamp marked specifically as a Customs stamp.

1883 Removed from Bond

Applied to boxes of domestic cigars moved from one excise warehouse to another without duty being paid by a regular stamp. If on a box, these stamps would be under the excise duty stamp which would be applied later. An 1885 version of this has the word CIGARS in a solid Roman typeface.

If you find either of these 4” long stamps on a box, please contact me.

1883, 1885 & 1887 Excise strips

ALL STAMPS TO SCALE. YELLOW DATES ON STAMPS ARE FOR YOUR REFERENCE. THEY ARE NOT ON THE ORIGINAL STAMPS.

New stamp designs were introduced in 1883 in 25, 50, 100 and 200 denominations in green, black and blue, the red having been replaced by the small Removed From Bond stamp seen above. A 19” long blue stamp was issued specifically for boxes of 500 Manilla cheroots, imported from the Philippines.

In 1885 a stamp for boxes of 10 cigars was authorized in black, blue and green, followed two years later by blue and black stamps for boxes of 3 and 6. Why a 12” stamp was needed for a pack of 3 cigars and a 15” long stamp for a pack of 6 cigars is not clear.

1897 Excise strips

In 1897 all four colors return, but apparently not in all denominations. Due to lack of demand the 3 cigar denomination was dropped and the 6 was issued only in black. The 10 wasn’t issued in green, but was issued in two different sizes. There was no green 25. The 200 was issued only in green and red. These omissions are among the mysteries and complexities of the Canadian cigar stamp.

The 6 is missing from the illustration as I don’t own one to photograph.

The 50 is the most frequently seen 1897 issue, here shown in all four colors. Red

stamps were then used on boxes of cigars made of foreign and domestic tobacco, mixed to government specified proportions. After 1908, only black stamps were printed and colored stamps were withdrawn and believed to have been sold to collector[s]. Because they continued in use, black stamps are difficult to find in mint condition.

1915 Excise

Revenue stamps of 1915 were issued for boxes of 3, 5, 6, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200. The 50 and 100 are identical to the issue of 1897 except for the date, printed on the bottom of the 50 just to the right of the arch. The tax laws were changed in 1908 doing away with differences in tax rate based on type of tobacco, hence the need for color.

In 1915, a small one and three-quarter inch horizontal stamp was authorized for the increasingly popular boxes of 5 and 10 cigars. Most were printed in gold, though light brown and black are also found. This marks the first Canadian cigar revenue to incorporate a portrait.

This is incorrectly cataloged by Brandom as first issued in 1922.

Until 1926 cigar makers were charged extra for buying small denomination stamps.

1922 & 1924 Excise strips

One of the most often seen stamps is the issue of 1922, tho the 100 is dated 1924. Size varies slightly from 6” to 6 1/4” in length.

Yellow dates are not on the original stamps.

1925

The 1915 small stamps were replaced with bilingual 1 7/8” long stamps issued in 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 cigars. You’ll rarely see one of these on a box. Featuring the arms of Canada, denominations appear to have been released over time as needed. All were black.

Around 1930 a Series A stamp for 30 cigars was added.

1935 Series C

The most commonly seen cigar revenue

stamps are the undated Series C strips authorized in 1935 in 25, 50 and 100 denominations. The 100 appears to have not been issued until a few years later. Series C was used until 1960 (or until stocks ran out). The 50 and 100 have the same design as the 25.

Smaller denominations were issued as black horizontals in 1935 and colored verticals in 1938. These small stamps were introduced as stocks of the 1922 and 1925 design were exhausted. Canadian stamp collectors report dates as late as 1948 for the first appearance of some issues. The black and colored varieties appear to have been used simultaneously.

1952 Provisional strip

In 1952, Series C stamps for boxes of 25

were overprinted to accommodate boxes of 20 or 30 cigars. These were used for eight years until 1960 (or until stocks ran out).

1960 & 1965 Strips

The 3 3/4” issue of 1960 is rarely seen. Issued for boxes of 20, 25, 30, 50, 100 and probably other sizes. Printed only in black identified by a central serial number which is no longer used after 1965.

1965, 1971 & 1973 Small verticals

Records are incomplete regarding denominations issued in 1965. The 1971 stamp was issued, according to stamp expert Chris Ryan, in 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 25, 30, 50 and 100. All are scarce on boxes. Lee Brandom’s 1973 stamps were actually unofficial non-governmental stamps created by the cigar industry in 1974.

Yellow Stamps for Sample Boxes

Based on correspondence from Chris Ryan

Canadian handling of sample boxes was very different than in the United States. Starting in 1883, Canadian cigar manufacturers were allowed to have two types of open sample boxes in their factory: duty-paid and duty-unpaid. A cigar maker was permitted only one open untaxed sample box of 25 cigars from each brand he produced. These boxes were for display purposes only and were to be affixed with a special yellow excise stamp to identify them. These display cigars could not be smoked.

Later that year, an amendment to the regs allowed a cigar manufacturer to have up to three sample boxes open in his factory, as long as they were stamped with regular excise duty stamps and were identified as samples by the signature of an Excise officer and the date the box was opened. Cigars from the duty paid boxes could be freely handed out to customers and smoked, but when the boxes were empty, to ensure the factory didn’t refill them, the law required the boxes to be destroyed in the presence of the Excise officer. Talk about a lack of trust!

Relatively few of the yellow stamps used in this cumbersome procedure were produced. Although laws governing the duty-unpaid samples and their yellow stamps remained in effect until April of 1939 the stamps themselves don’t seem to have lasted anywhere near that long. According to BABN records, 20,000 of these stamps were lithographed during the Contract of 1878-1886. Under the 1886-1892 Contract, only 1,500 of the stamps were produced by steel-plate printing and 864 by lithography. These stamps apparently ignominiously and deservedly faded from use thereafter, as no yellow sample stamps are listed as produced under the Contract of 1892-1897. Evidence from Contracts and Calls for Tender after 1897 suggests that no yellow Sample Box stamps were printed after that date, since they are not included in the accompanying Lists of Estimated Quantities of Revenue Stamps Required. Lists from 1896, 1912, 1921, 1924, 1929 and 1935 do not mention yellow Sample stamps as being needed by the Revenue Department. Likewise, CBN had no dies, rolls or plates for Sample Box stamps on hand at the end of its revenue stamp contracts in 1935.

Other Canadian Laws

Like their U.S. counterparts, every Canadian box has an I.D. consisting of a government assigned factory number and the tax district and the number of cigars in the box. Between 1867 and 1921 Canada was divided east to west into tax districts called Inland Revenue Divisions (abbreviated IRD). After 1883 a code number was added to the IRD to identify specific cities or regions. IRD 26, for example, was Toronto. An ID might read Fact. 12, IRD 26, 50.

Sometimes the ID information was shortened to three numbers. If a cigar box is marked

6-17-25, it’s read as Factory 6 in IRD 17 (S. Davis & Sons, Montreal) and a box of 25 cigars. Chris Ryan, a serious and generous Toronto researcher, has identified many of the IRD-city combinations:

IRD

3 Pictou, NS

4 Halifax, NS

5 Yarmouth, NS

6 St. John, NB

8 Quebec, PQ

9 Trois Rivieres, PQ

10 Sherbrooke, PQ

11 Sorel, PQ

12 St. Hyacinthe, PQ

13 Victoriaville, PQ

14 L’Epiphanie / Joliette, PQ

15 Terrebonne, PQ

17 Montreal, PQ

18 Brockville / Cornwall, ON

19 Prescott, ON

20 Ottawa, ON

21 Perth, ON

22 Kingston, ON

23 Belleville, ON

25 Peterborough, ON

26 Toronto, ON

27 Owen Sound / Waterloo, ON

28 Guelph / Kitchener / Berlin / Galt, ON

29 St. Catharines, ON

30 Hamilton, ON

31 Woodstock / Brantford, ON

32 London / St.Thomas, ON

33 Stratford / Listowel, ON

34 Windsor / Chatham, ON

35 Port Arthur, ON

36 Winnipeg, MB

37 Victoria, BC

38 Vancouver, BC

39 Calgary / Edmonton, AB

41 Moose Jaw, SK

After 1921, IRD’s were renamed “Ports” and a new system developed. Each province was assigned a letter from east to west. A was assigned to Nova Scotia, B to Prince Edward Island, C to New Brunswick, D to Quebec, E to Ontario, F to Manitoba, G to Saskatchewan, H to Alberta and I to British Columbia. Within each province numbers were assigned to cigar making centers as well as factory numbers to individual makers. Within the province of Quebec, for example, 10D was Montreal whereas 13D was Quebec. After 1921, the ID on a box of 50 cigars made in Montreal by S.Davis & Sons would read Fact. 6, Port 10D, 50.

BASIC DATING USING A CAUTION NOTICE

Look at the bottom of your Canadian cigar box.

Is there a Caution Notice? If yes, it’s pre 1935 or so. If not, it’s after 1936 (more or less).

Does the ID - Caution Notice use initials IRD? If so, it dates 1883-1921 (or slightly later). Does the ID - Caution Notice use the word Port? If so, it dates between 1921 and 1935 (more or less). Always remember, dating Canadian boxes using their laws and stamps is much less accurate than dating U.S. made boxes, where latitude of enforcement was rarely more than two or three months as opposed to “when stocks run out.”

As in the United States, if a cigar maker shut down, the factory number could be, and frequently was, reassigned.

NCM Home Dating Boxes Tax Port Locations

Identifying Canadian Cigarmakers by factory

A yellow stamp was also issued to indicate sample boxes opened in the factory.

The story of how these yellow stamps were used can be found at the end of this stamp chapter. Only four of these yellow-colored 1883 sample stamps are known. The yellow color makes detail hard to see so is enhanced here in sepia. Stamp not in the NCM collection.