InStone Inc. History

InStone, Inc. was born out of our love for vintage cigar label art. We were introduced to cigar labels at the Long Beach Coin &
Collectibles Show, and they made quite a first impression. We marveled over the beauty, intricacy and detail of the artwork, which
made vintage cigar label art stand out from the assortment of other vintage paper and advertising art at the show. Not surprisingly, we learned that many famous artists of their day were responsible for creating these beautiful works of art, which we consider mini-masterpieces.

Learning about the painstaking stone lithography process that was used to make these labels only added to our interest. It’s amazing to realize that they printed these labels with giant Bavarian stone carvings (using one stone for each color). That arduous and costly process surely could not be duplicated today, making these labels a truly unique collectible.

The haphazard, almost accidental way that various titles have survived over the years is a mystery. Finding people who have them stashed
in an attic or in an old warehouse, or tucked away in the family bible is like a treasure hunt. Labels from the 1800s that have managed to survive and maintain their beauty are indeed rare.

These labels come from an exciting period of our country’s history, 1870-1930. Many of them depict the rich history and flamboyance of America at that time. The diversity of the subject matter is remarkable; there are labels for every collector! Many people collect them just
as cigar labels, others collect them to frame as works of art, and still others find ways to integrate them into their own creative endeavors. Whatever your interest, we hope you’ll find “your” labels.