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Posted By: Eric

Brian is correct. The 1909 tax stamp was used several years after 1909 so it would be difficult to tell the date of manufacture unless there is an overprinted date.

I have an empty Mecca cigarette pack and an empty Hassan cigarette pack and both have the 1909 tax stamp. However, these packs have overprinted dates of 1911 on them. My Hassan cigarettes pack has the following information overprinted on the 1909 tax stamp:
The A.T.C. Co.
Factory No. 649
First Dist., N.Y.
Dec. 18, 1911

I always look for this overprinted date and unless it's there, I don't bid very high. I had an empty Mecca cigarettes pack with a overprinted date of July 1911 and sold it for about $75.00

I also have a full pack of Zira cigarettes with a 1909 tax stamp and an overprinted date of July 1917. The cigarettes are still inside and so is the coupon for free gifts. Folks must have gone to an early grave smoking these unfiltered cancer sticks!!!

Eric