I found a treasure. On Saturday, we traveled across the Bay to attend the Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire, which is held the first Sunday of every month on the old Navy base.
The faire is row after row of nostalgia. I went there looking for an old surf board to hang as a wall decoration. No luck. But sitting on one of the thousands of folding tables, mixed in with old tools, bottles, magazines, and door knobs was this box. I was intrigued, so I reached over, picked it up, and opened it.
No way, I said to myself, and then began looking more carefully.
To my great surprise, I found the original plate that was made to make the stamp on the box. And I found a proof of said plate printed in blue on some old, old paper. Then I noticed the address - Jesse J. Alexander, in San Francisco. Specifically at 6253 Geary Street, which is right down the street from where I live.
But there was one more thing that just blew me away:
Who is this woman?? How cool is this - a bit of old history just sitting there. The guy who had it for sale came over and asked "So young man, are you interested in it?" Young man. Loved that. And I said in my my best understated tone "Yeah, this is interesting. How much?" And he said "20 bucks", which was in his hand before the s was finished out of his mouth.
Once the deal was done, I told him I was a printer, that I lived just down the street from the address on the box, and that I was really happy I found this. He seemed pretty chuffed, too.
I came home and did some Googling, and while the address is still on Geary (it is the Mayflower Restaurant, oddly the first restaurant I ever went to when I moved to SF in 1997), but there is no mention at all about "California Maid" cigars. Nothing. It is like it never existed, but I just know there is someone out there who has a story.
Let me know if you know anything about this brand, and for your trouble I will send you a print of the block I found in this little treasure chest.
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