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Joe_G.Hate to keep pounding this back to the top with so few replies, but I still have a couple questions. (I appreciate the replies from Julie, Kevin, & Jay)
OK, my pack measures as follows. LxWxH of the outside box (longest to shortest dimensions) come in at 2 13/16" x 1 5/8" x 5/8". The inside "sliding drawer" is slightly longer at 2 7/8". So let's say the box as a whole is 2 7/8" x 1 5/8" x 5/8". Not much larger than an N172 card.
Jay has a post-N172 production box (post 1890, after the merger) that looks like the early boxes. That is, Jay's post 1890 box displays "Old Judge" entirely on the front like Kevin Cumming's Feb 1 1887, Trevor Hocking's May 1 1887, and Julie Vognar's May 1 1887 box. Can any of you three, or others, measure your early pack to see if it matches the larger dimensions that Jay shared from his post 1890 pack (3" x 1 3/4" x 5/8")? I'm sure they do. Note that the difference in these dimensions are a mere 1/8" in length & width.
The question I have is whether these larger boxes are simply due to the addition of "cigarette holders" with the cigarettes as Jay mentions. That is, as a consumer, could you chose your Old Judge cigarettes with or without the "cigarette holders", hence two different size boxes, and perhaps two different prices?
OK, to recap the information shared to this point, looks like all Old Judge packs (at least those during N172 production) have tax stamps that are dated from the first day of the month; likely the month ahead or in which they were received by the vendor/store. And being a hot commodity, likely sold shortly after. Packs during N173 production 1888/89 may be found with a notice printed in red on the seal stating "READ BASEBALL NOTICE INSIDE". And with another reply or two, maybe I can add that two different size boxes can be found depending on whether they included "cigarette holders" or not.
So again, I'm looking for more information from the owners of the early packs that appear to be larger. What dimensions are they (same as Jay's post 1890 pack?) and do they make reference to having "cigarette holders" on the side?
Thanks!