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