Posted By:
Jon CanfieldScott B - I am 100% certain about my 1893 dating of the tax stamp. 20 count boxes have been available since March 1, 1879.
After I saw your post, I went back to my Springer's guide to make sure I was correct in my dating. Below is a scan from Springer's 4th edition clearly showing the 1893 tax stamp and to compare against that from Art's box. Also note that boxes were available in both 10 and 20 counts. If you look at the top of Art's tax stamp (I know, the scan is tiny), I believe the little bubble says "New Series" which would date the tax stamp to 1893. (If I had a close up scan of the tax stamp, I could date the pack for sure). Now, I note that Art's box does have overprinting which, I believe, could date his box to as late as 1901 or thereabouts.
Edited to add: An easy way to tell 20 cigarette tax stamps is to look at the stamp, itself. In 1910-1917, this stamp would have bore large lettering on the top that read "SERIES of 1910." In 1917, this lettering changed to "CLASS A." Regardless, my initial point still holds true - 20 count cigarette packs were available and taxed in 1879 and the tax stamp from Art's box debuted in 1893. I'm not sure were the post-1911 came from but the fact that the box is a 20-cigarette box really plays no role in the dating of the pack.
