Label Sizes and Parts

Many of our clients wonder about label sizes, and we know scanning can be deceptive, i.e., Nail Tags look as big as Outers. In the interest of ensuring you understand what you’re purchasing, here’s a brief explanation of each label part, including general sizes (all in inches) and common abbreviations.

• Inner (I) labels, placed on the inside lid of cigar boxes, usually measure approximately 6 x 9.   
• Outer (O) labels, placed on the outside of cigar boxes, usually measure approximately 4 1/2 x 4 1/2. Unusual shapes were sometimes used for Outers, which were found on boxes of 100 or more cigars.
• Top Sheets (TS) or Flaps (FL) are the sheets placed on top of the cigars to protect them from the lid. They’re usually less ornate than Inners and measure approximately 5 x 8.       
• Top Wraps (TW), used on the boxes’ outside, often resemble wood grain. They usually measure approximately 5 x 8.       
• Ends (E), used to cover cigar box ends so they could be identified when stacked, usually measure approximately 2 1/2 x 5 1/4.       
• Back Flaps (BF), placed on the back of open cigar boxes so the brand name would hang over the cigars, usually measure approximately 3 1/2 x 2. 
• Front Flaps (FF), placed on the front of open cigar boxes so the brand name would hang over the cigars, usually measure approximately 3 1/2 x 2.        
• Can Labels (C), used on cigars packaged in tin cans, usually measure 3 3/4 x 18.
• Can Tops or Top Labels (TL) were used on the tops of cigar tins, which usually have a 3-inch diameter.
• Nail Tags (NT), Seals (SL) or Trade Marks (TM) were placed on the lid and the front of the boxes to cover the nail that sealed the lid and prevent tampering. These vary in size from approximately 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 to 3 x 4. Unusual shapes were sometimes used for these labels; some larger Seals could be top brand oval labels, placed on the outside top of the lid to replace wood-burning.

• Samples (Smp), labels salesmen took around on sales calls, usually include the lithographer's name and address, and sometimes have prices. Samples exist of all label types; sometimes they’re in a book.
• Proof Labels (PF) are usually not embossed. They include the marks used to align the paper to each stone and color, and some have a color bar showing the colors used.
• Notices (Ntc), which usually measure approximately 4 1/2 x 4 1/2, state that the manufacturer complied with all applicable laws and caution purchasers not to re-use cigar boxes or the stamps on them.      
• Edging (Edg), used to cover boxes’ edges, usually measures approximately 1 x 10, but sizes can vary.
• Front Labels (FL), used to cover the front panel of cigar boxes, usually measure 2 1/4 x 8 1/2, but sizes can but vary.
• Bands (B) were wrapped snugly around each cigar. 
• Untitleds (UNT) are labels that have no titles. We’ve placed an asterisk next to the titles we created for untitled labels.

These general measurements should help you to determine the sizes of the labels on our site. Some things appear larger than they are because we have enlarged them so you can see all the detail. If the exact size of a label is important to you, give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide it.