Posted By:
davidcyclebackI don't smoke either and don't know the terminology, but can
tell you that box design-wise a 1909 Sweet Caporal box and a 1925
Sweet Caporal box look nearly identical externally. The average person
couldn't tell whether or not it's a slide box without opening it.
Additionally, the 1920s packs are commonly in a transluscent glassine-like
paper wrap, making it difficult to closely inspect the openings. It should
be noted that the tax stamp is on the inside of the wrap, so if the wrap
is removed, the pack is still unopened. Also, the wrap is very delicate
and it would be hard to remove and put back on the wrap without clearly
damaging it.
In fact, the 1909 and 1920s Sweet Caporals use nearly identical graphics.
The only differnce being the tax stamp, other printed info.
What's particulary funny about the 'Milk Dud' box-style Sweet Caporal boxes
is that one end is sealed with a tax stamp, but the other end has an
identical flap opening with no seal. You can open one end, remove all the contents,
replace the contents with gummy bears, and the tax stamp will never be
broken. Of course, the 1920s Sweet Caporal boxes have no cards in them,
so it's no bid deal.
If someone ever shows video of a T206 Ty Cobb being removed from a sealed
1927 Sweet Caporal cigarette box, you've just learned how it was done.
I haven't had one in a while, but I beleive the slide boxes are a slide out
box inside a shell. In this case, the tax stamp really does seal the slide box, as there
is only one door to get it. As noted, I haven't seen one in person in a
while, so someone would have to confirm this and/or show a picture.