Civil War Era Cigar Labels
Undoubtedly the best "segar" to be had in the 19th century (or today for that matter) was made from Vuelta Abajo tobacco raised in Cuba. Havana was packed with tobacco companies who shipped their product all over the world. Being in close proximity, the United States was one of the largest markets for Cuban cigars and remained so until the 1960s when President Kennedy put a tariff on Cuban goods making the cigars illegal (right after he ordered several thousand for himself).