Proudly printed on the lid of a decorative Monopole tin is the statement: Joseph Huppmann, Proprietor. There is evidence to suggest that tobacconist Huppmann was a Russian who had originally made his high quality cigarettes in St. Petersburg. Huppmann supposedly relocated to Cuba about 1853, then left the island to open the European Model Tobacco Works in New York City around 1860. By the 1880's his business had been renamed the Monopole European Model Tobacco Works. Twenty-one brands of cigarettes were manufactured in two stores/factories: Factory 383, 3rd District NY at 189 Broadway, and Factory 18, 3rd District NY at 1127 Broadway. In 1886 Monopole's most expensive cigarette was Huppmann Imperiales, which wholesaled for 60 cents a box of ten. A most luxurious smoke meant for the affluent connoisseur. Sweet Sixteen Cigarettes, Monopole's cheapest brand, cost about a nickel. When first introduced, the Monopole Cigarette was a blend of Turkish and Russian tobaccos, and came packaged in a blue and cream colored tin. Later, the brand was a straight-Turkish tobacco. The Monopole Tobacco Works was bought by James Duke's cigarette monopoly in 1899, and about this time the "e" was dropped from the end of Monopole.