Five Vintage Cigar Bands by [Theodore Roosevelt]

Fine. 2.5" x 3.5" Political Item bands, all colorful and four bearing likeness of the 25th President in full bust pose. Cigar bands as a means of marketing and product differentiation extends back almost two centuries. At the turn of the 20th century it is estimated that about 4 out of 5 men smoked cigars. The advent of the color printing process ushered in the golden age of cigar bands between 1890 - 1920, of which these five are excellent examples of the the printing skills and promotional intentions. Teddy's father had him started smoking them as young as eight to help with his severe asthma (go figure). I do hope that he greatly relished a Cubano atop Kettle Hill after inspiring and leading his Rough Riders to victory during the Spanish-American War.