1798 – Lithography is invented.  Lithography is the process of carving an image onto a flat stone and using a crayon or ink to replicate that image (in reverse) onto paper.

1809 – Artists like Francisco Goya elevate lithography in popularity by creating fine art with the technique.

1830s – Cubans begin using cigar bands domestically

         Cigar Band: decorative paper strip that is wrapped around a cigar.

 1836 – Chromolithography is invented in Germany and later perfected in the United States by the creator of the first greeting card: Louis Prang.  Chromolithography is the use of more than one color and stone (up to 25 stones).

1850 - Innovative Dutch merchant Gustave Bock distinguishes his own cigars by placing a paper band (cigar band) on them.

1890s – Embossing (creating a raised texture) and brass gilding (covering with a thin layer of brass) are introduced.

1900 – Photomechanical reproduction: use of a camera to separate primary colors in artwork.  The colors are then transferred onto zinc or aluminum printing cylinders for mechanical presses.  This process eliminated the need for lithographic artists.

1920s – Golden Era of cigar labels winds down with the growing popularity of photomechanical printing.

            Cigar Label: the main decorative paper which is glued onto cigar boxes.