I should have known Kevin would have the answer -- or rather, ALL the answers. Thanks! *_________________________________* *Peter Salwen /* salwen.com *114 W 86, NYC 10024 | 917-620-5371* On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 10:02 PM, Kevin Mac Donnell < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Aschermann registered Mark Twain Cigars on July 1, 1877. I've found nothing > to indicate that he paid Twain anything or that Twain even even knew of > him. > He produced cigars (I have one of his cigar boxes, perhaps the only example > that survives), a trade card, and a small oblong poster, plus the two > pieces > of sheet music. I've played the waltz, but not the mazurka. The waltz isn't > bad, but it ain't Chopin. Based on slim evidence, his cigars seemed to have > been sold mostly in the midwest. > > Aschermann's are the earliest Mark Twain Cigars I have found, and he was > followed by many others. I have examples of all of the other boxes and > advertising cards by other makers. Just to avoid confusion, the Mark Twain > Cigar box and labels and signs you usually see (Known to Everyone, Liked by > All) was much later. The designs were proofed in 1913, the cigars were > being > advertised for sale by March, 1916, but that brand was not registered until > 1931. The factory that made their labels and bands shut down ca. 1950, but > production of the cigars may have ended earlier. > > Kevin > @ > Mac Donnell Rare Books > 9307 Glenlake Drive > Austin TX 78730 > 512-345-4139 > Member: ABAA, ILAB > ************************* > You may browse our books at: > www.macdonnellrarebooks.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Peter Salwen > Sent: Monday, November 20, 2017 5:08 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Here's a curiosity > > I just stumbled across these two oddities from around 1880 at the Library > of Congress website: "Mark Twain Mazurka" and "Mark Twain Waltz," published > by Wm. Rohlfing & Co., composed by respectively Felix Kraemer and "X.Y.Z." > and allegedly "dedicated" to Messrs Edw. Aschermann & Co., manufacturers of > the celebrated Mark Twain cigars. The covers are illustrated with what I > take to be advertising or packaging graphics for the cigars. Does anyone > know the story about this stuff? For example, did MT get paid for the use > of his name? > > For anyone who wants a closer look, here are the links: > > https://www.loc.gov/resource/sm1880.15910.0?st=gallery > > https://www.loc.gov/resource/sm1880.15909.0?q=mark+twain&st=gallery > > -- Pete Salwen >