Minor point, I think you are dating these issues too early. As I pointed out in Jeff's recent post on silks, A&G distributed crops ~3 years after harvest. So crop of 1884 was likely distributed in 1887. Here is what I wrote previously:
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FWIW, A&G cigarettes were produced with ~3 year old crops at that time. I have two 1888 cigarette packs that are dated June 26th and Dec. 18th 1888 that both advertise being from the "Crop of 1885". Most of the "Crop of 1884" A&G items likely date to ~1887.
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I also believe Dixie cigarettes were a later issue, closer to ATC merger in 1890, but I don't have proof. The many A&G albums that were offered in 1888 do not mention Dixie cigarettes. This might be one research avenue you could pursue (determine when Dixie Cigarettes were released).