This San Alto Invincibles cigar box holds a mixed group of vintage photographs, negatives, photo finishing envelopes, handwritten notes, correspondence, and other paper ephemera.
The box and papers show clear age and storage wear, and the contents have a slight musty storage smell, but the group remains packed with original photographic and paper material to sort through.
The mix suits collectors of early photography, old photo negatives, advertising ephemera, family paper archives, and found paper groups that have been kept together rather than separated.
Details
-
Item: Cigar box filled with vintage photographic and paper ephemera
-
Item Type: Mixed photographs, negatives, correspondence, notes, envelopes, and photo finishing material in original cigar box
-
Era: Mid 20th century. A June 1939 date is present among the contents
-
Materials: Paper covered cigar box, photographic paper, film negatives, envelopes, handwritten paper, and printed forms
-
Color: Yellow, red, black, green, cream, and aged paper tones
-
Maker and Mark: Box marked SAN ALTO and Invincibles
-
Pattern or Model: Not confirmed from photos
-
Style: Vintage photography and found paper ephemera archive
-
Dimensions: Box measures approximately 9 inches by 6 inches by 2 1/2 inches. Product weight 1 pound 12 ounces
-
Special Features: Includes loose negatives, black and white photographs, Walgreens Studio photo material, Metropolitan photo finishing material, Stoneway Pharmacy envelope, E. M. Priest Attorney at Law envelope, W. E. Barnes and Sons film and camera printing material, handwritten notes, correspondence, and other mixed paper pieces
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
-
Graded Good: The box and contents remain usable as a mixed vintage paper and photography group, with clear signs of long storage and handling.
- The San Alto box retains bright yellow, red, black, and green graphics, including the crest, brand name, Invincibles wording, and tax stamp.
- The contents include multiple types of photographic material rather than a single group of prints, including loose negatives, black and white photographs, photo finishing envelopes, and related paperwork.
- Several envelopes and papers retain printed business names and handwritten information, giving the group many individual pieces to examine.
- The photo finishing material includes period advertising and printed pricing information, including a double size prints sheet and Hi Glo photo finishing envelope.
Issues / Wear
- The cigar box shows edge wear, corner wear, scuffs, surface marks, and small areas of paper loss from age and handling.
- The papers and envelopes show toning, folds, creases, stains, edge wear, handwriting, and handling marks.
- Some photographic negatives and paper pieces are loose and have been stored together rather than individually sleeved.
- The contents have a slight musty smell from storage.
Condition Grade Key
-
Near Fine: Close to new. Any flaw is small and named above.
-
Very Good: Light use. Every flaw is named above, and none of them get in the way of reading or display.
-
Good: Complete and usable, with clear signs of use. Every flaw is named above.
-
Fair: Heavy wear or damage, named above. A reading or working copy, not a display piece.
Collector's Notes
The box combines photography, correspondence, business envelopes, and everyday paper material. Groups like this preserve the small printed pieces that were usually discarded once photographs were developed or letters were answered.
The mix suits a collector of vintage photography, photo processing history, advertising paper, handwritten ephemera, or found family paper groups. It also offers useful material for someone who enjoys identifying old photographs and negatives.
The San Alto box remains part of the group, and its colorful cigar advertising provides a strong period container for the quieter paper pieces inside. A June 1939 date among the contents gives the assortment one confirmed point in time.
The appeal here is in opening the box and finding one different piece after another, from negatives and photographs to business envelopes and handwritten notes.
Shipping + Trust (Reading Vintage standards)
-
Photo-verified condition, no surprises
- Packed with care. Glass and fragile pieces get extra cushioning
- Ships in 2 business days
- Free Shipping on $35+ (U.S. only)
Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
I do my best to capture colors accurately, but your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Please Note
These pieces come from estate collections and have been surface cleaned. You may wish to perform additional cleaning depending on your preference.
How Reading Vintage sources and grades every piece
