Por Larranaga CCC?

[Fugu]

2 hours ago, ATGroom said:

I don't have an answer, but I find the idea that it's "claro claro claro" dubious.

 

“CCC” had been the code for “claro”, Alex, “CC” for “colorado-claro” and “C” for “colorado”.

Since claro had been the most desired wrapper shade for quite some time in many markets it is not unlikely that it had been worthwhile back then having gotten a sticker for it. Like most others stamped “claro”, this sticker is a peculiarity to Por Larrañaga, reaching back to pre-revolution times. Therefore, and as @nKostyan suggests, it simply is a relic, without any meaning anymore today.

My take why they’re keeping it?!.... Because it’s Cuba and they’d simply forgotten about the meaning themselves...😂. Might probably fall with the current re-designs. Or they’ll still continue to use it as sort of a branding token.

[ATGroom]

1 hour ago, Fugu said:

“CCC” had been the code for “claro”, Alex, “CC” for “colorado-claro” and “C” for “colorado”.

Ah, okay... in what context is this code used?

I've seen many stamps on the bottom of boxes with it fully spelled out, ie, "Claro", "Claro Claro", "Colorado Claro", "Colorado Maduro", "C. Colorado" etc.

Where was CCC used? Are you talking about the signature mark?

[Fugu]

Afaik producers and/or importers used it back in the day. There was an account by Simon Chase, I think it was, referring to it. Will look it up...

[Fugu]

Here is a reference, in an article by Simon Chase in CJ. The following excerpt addresses the mentioned shade coding, including a pic of a 1939 shipping consignment from Cifuentes to John Hunter Morris & Elkan, London, in which it had been implemented:

“When I started out, Claro wrappers were all the rage. Up until the 1970s, some Cuban factories marked boxes with the colour of their contents, either with the full names – Claro, Colorado Claro, and so on. Or sometimes with a code – CCC for Claro, CC for Colorado Claro and C for Colorado. They noted the colours on their invoices, too, as can be seen on the example from Partagás in 1939 to Hunters for Ramón Allones (see page XX). Most of the cigars are Claro (CCC), even for a full-flavoured brand.”

 

Full article here:

https://www.cigarjournal.com/wrappers-more-than-just-a-shell/

[ha_banos]

9 hours ago, Fugu said:

Here is a reference, in an article by Simon Chase in CJ. The following excerpt addresses the mentioned shade coding, including a pic of a 1939 shipping consignment from Cifuentes to John Hunter Morris & Elkan, London, in which it had been implemented:

“When I started out, Claro wrappers were all the rage. Up until the 1970s, some Cuban factories marked boxes with the colour of their contents, either with the full names – Claro, Colorado Claro, and so on. Or sometimes with a code – CCC for Claro, CC for Colorado Claro and C for Colorado. They noted the colours on their invoices, too, as can be seen on the example from Partagás in 1939 to Hunters for Ramón Allones (see page XX). Most of the cigars are Claro (CCC), even for a full-flavoured brand.”

Full article here:

https://www.cigarjournal.com/wrappers-more-than-just-a-shell/

Nice find. Interesting we're back to colour again.

 

I'm at jjfox later in the week. Will ask there too. Challenge our MoH ... trained by h&f 😇 Should cause some merriment.

[ATGroom]

3 hours ago, Fugu said:

“When I started out, Claro wrappers were all the rage. Up until the 1970s, some Cuban factories marked boxes with the colour of their contents, either with the full names – Claro, Colorado Claro, and so on. Or sometimes with a code – CCC for Claro, CC for Colorado Claro and C for Colorado. They noted the colours on their invoices, too, as can be seen on the example from Partagás in 1939 to Hunters for Ramón Allones (see page XX). Most of the cigars are Claro (CCC), even for a full-flavoured brand.”

Interesting. I'd say Simon is specifically referring to PL in that comment as I don't recall seeing CCC stickers on any other brand.

I had a look through my archive to see if I could find a box with both the CCC sticker and a colour stamp on the bottom, and can't find any for PL. So it seems to hold some water that PL used the stickers and other factories used the stamps. Doesn't really explain why they only classify the CCC though.

[Fugu]

10 hours ago, ha_banos said:

I'm at jjfox later in the week. Will ask there too. Challenge our MoH ... trained by h&f 😇 Should cause some merriment.

Yeah, do that! 👍

And perhaps you can take a glimpse at the basement for older PL dressboxes.

[Fugu]

21 hours ago, ATGroom said:

I had a look through my archive to see if I could find a box with both the CCC sticker and a colour stamp on the bottom, and can't find any for PL. So it seems to hold some water that PL used the stickers and other factories used the stamps. Doesn't really explain why they only classify the CCC though.

Yes, seems they either wore it or they didn’t. But never some different sticker. Stumbled across an interesting box of Montecarlos on my web searches of older boxes. Here is a pic from a ‘60s box from ‘Cigar Collector’ that was not wearing the sticker. Also of note - seems the Por Larrañaga ‘Monte-Carlo’ (sole French spelling back then) once had its own peculiar band. Never seen before.

Side note, the red/silver (gules and argent) lozengy blasoning implemented on Papeleta and bands seen in that box, and the motto “Deo Juvante” are taken from the coat of arms of the House of Grimaldi. So it seems there must have been some kind of official appointment with Monaco back then. Or it had originally / or additionally been a specially commissioned production.

[ha_banos]

So was at jjs last night for the Churchill birthday bash. Asked Ciro there about the CCC sticker. He said immediately colour. Colorado. It was a question that had come up not too long ago. Because the event, downstairs was out of bounds. But I'll go looking next time I'm in. He did say they found a 30s box with CCC.

I also asked the H&F sales and marketing director. He promised to check it out for me. But he'll forget in a week!

 

 

 

[JimmyMc]

CCC means Claro in a code, or shorthand, used before the Revolution and up until sometime in the 1980s.  CC stood for Colorado Claro and C for Colorado.  I have no idea why they are still putting CCC on Por Larañaga labels, but the earliest box of PL  I've seen with CCC on it is from 1938.

[ha_banos]

59 minutes ago, JimmyMc said:

CCC means Claro in a code, or shorthand, used before the Revolution and up until sometime in the 1980s.  CC stood for Colorado Claro and C for Colorado.  I have no idea why they are still putting CCC on Por Larañaga labels, but the earliest box of PL  I've seen with CCC on it is from 1938.

Can you ask?