Steven Gilbert sent the above photos to clarify the Our Kitties issue. I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw the photos. I have always assumed if a label showed wood grain then it is a wood or top wrap. Just as the English language is riddled with exceptions, so are placement rules on cigar boxes. As you see in the photos above, the inner label is a wood grain label. Also, with this box there is no top wrap. The top is branded with the cigar name and some decoration. In this case, however, there is a common wood theme on the front, ends, and the inner. So, the only logical conclusion is the box was designed to look like wood from the start.

I have also seen cigar boxes where the inner label doesn't match the outer. In this case the manufacture probably ran out of the correct outer and made "do" with whatever was available. If you discover exceptions or interesting properties about cigar labels please write the Gazette.