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February 2008 Long Beach Coin and
Collectibles Show
The
Cigar Box Label Section of the February, 2008 Long Beach
Coin and Collectibles Show featured a big Cigar Box Label
sign hanging over the label section. Participating dealers
experiencing better than moderate activity in sales and are
encouraged by an upswing in new faces showing an interest in
the Cigar Label story. These new faces along with the old
guard and those just beginning to collect labels kept the
show interesting.
Dealers at the show included Sid Emerson and the three B's
(Mike Bianco, Si Bass and Nick Buzolich.) They enjoyed
watching the different groups of collectors and the emotions
they display regarding their labels and those they want to
find. Those who already have a sizeable collection,
including Steve Berman, Rafael Gonzalez and Richard Matsueda,
have that nice, peaceful look of veteran owners of cigar box
labels. Their attitude is: " I have a nice collection of
labels and they are not going to get away from me. I go
through every binder on the floor and if I locate a label I
want it is
going home with me. If I don't find that special label, I
still go home happy."
David Caciola, Joseph Jan Lois, Kirk Harris, David Lisot
and Van Simmons make up a group called "The Friends of
Labels." This is a group of highly intelligent businessmen.
They all have a healthy curiosity about Cigar Box Labels.
They have seen a lot of things come and go at this fifty
year old Long Beach Convention. They've watched as Global
Cigar Label Grading Service started up a little over a year
ago and are impressed with the service Dennis and Terry
Celano have put out. Since GCLGS started the Celanos have
has labels to grade with no end in sight. the group has also
watched Cigar Box Labels go through the most prestigious
auction gallery in this business. They've watched as the
world wide internet gave cigar labels a way to allow
collectors to network in ways virtually unheard of
previously. They watched fifteen years ago when our Cigar
Label booth(s) had for sale the one book on the
subject. There have been at least twenty books on this
subject written since that time. We really appreciate the
interest shown and the encouragement given by this group as
we grow this emerging field.
Some of the newer folks visiting our booths were Ron Guth,
Eric McClarin, Michael Rodriguez and the upbeat sisters in
law, Carolyn and Tandi Wylie. It's always nice to get some
good looking gals into the mix! Who knows who might come by
and look over their shoulders?
The next showing of labels will be at the Del Mar Antiques,
Collectibles and Decorator Show on April 18th - 20th, 2008
at
the Del Mar Fairgrounds at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del
Mar, California. The next Long Beach Show will be on May
29th-31st. We are looking forward to seeing you.
January 2008 Del
Mar Antiques Show Report
Cigar box labels continue to get introduced at this
fairly new (to us) venue. In the past, cigar Labels were scattered around the two
large halls here. At the November 2007 and the January 2008 shows, they have
been featured as the main product in at least two of the booths.
The labels have been very well received at the show now that
they are displayed more prominently. Mury, Mike and Kathy at the
InStone booth have talked to many people getting their first introduction
to Cigar Box Label Art. The different stages of the images from 1870 up through the
1920’s are like a pictorial history of that exciting period. Speaking of
history, the author of the best book on the history of Cigar Box Labels visited the
InStone booth;
Dr. Gerard Petrone of San Diego along with his wife, Pam.
Pam was very patient as Dr. Petrone signed a few of his books, "Cigar Box
Labels-Portraits of Life, Mirrors of History." Many of these books were
headed to the InStone, Inc. website www.instoneinc.com for display and sale. We feel
very lucky that Dr. Petrone takes the time to personally sign a few
editions, making them that much more special. Dr. Petrone’s first book,
"Tobacco Advertising: The Great Seduction" is also available at this site along
with other books written on cigar box labels.
Another fine local doctor, Dr. Russel Buzzard of Escondido,
visited the label booths. Dr. Buzard said his case of "labelitis" is
still under control and he is enjoying his labels. The doctor did say that if
his book case gets totally full of label binders he might start looking for a
cure. We hope this doesn’t happen although we do have a nice antique book case lined up just in case he needs it!
Some more of the regular label friends came through he show:
Tandi Wylie, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Cox, Brad Norris, and Carolyn Wylie along
with the newcomers. All helped make the show an enjoyable experience
for the
Cigar Label dealers. Along with the InStone booth, other
booths displaying these beautiful images were Frank Galucchi, Margo Essman
and Sid and Selma Emerson. See you at the next Del Mar Antiques
Show April 18th, 19th and 20th.
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