Elephants have been wondrous attractions since they first appeared in the Western World, the early 1800s in the United States. News of a pachyderm’s presence inspired cigar makers and sellers to emblazon cigar boxes with images of the massive creatures. Hot news was hot news...and would, the theory went, capture the eye of a smoker. The ease with which brands and images could be introduced led to a steady stream of topical boxes. From long before the Civil War to days after Vietnam, you could always find an elephant when you wanted one. Here are some from the archives of my Cigar History Museum.  Elephant Regalias is the earliest known elephant-themed box from an American cigar factory.