Name/Title
Premium, TobaccoEntry/Object ID
1996.037.0149Description
Silky rectangle printed with brown and blue dressed golfer and "Columbia", the college insignia and "Murad Cigarettes" printed on the background; at bottom: "Factory No. 7 2nd Dist. N.Y."
size 5-1/2"L x 3-1/4"W
Historical Background
Cigarette silks were a popular advertising premium in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tobacco companies, including Nebo, included them in cigarette packs to attract customers. These silks were typically 1.75–5 inches long, made from silk, silk satin, cotton sateen, or plain woven cotton, and were often one-sided with vibrant printed or embroidered designs
They were marketed as collectible items that could be sewn into quilts, curtains, pillowcases, or other home décor. The practice of inserting such premiums began around 1870 and in the U.S. by 1905, but most tobacco companies stopped by 1914, just before World War I.
According to Chat GPT this is from 1910. (See Chat GPT full reply below.)Collection
Benicia Historical Museum Collection
