The first packaged cigarette with a moisture-proof and sealed cellophane outer wrap to preserve freshness was invented in 1913 by Richard Joshua Reynolds (R.J Reynolds). To create a more appealing flavor, he designed the Camel cigarette, which was named for its use of Turkish tobacco to mimic the then-fashionable Egyptian cigarette. Reynolds sold more than 425 million packs for less than his competitors within a year. Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the city where R. J. Reynolds was founded, is nicknamed “Camel City” because of the brand’s popularity.
These historical photos show the Camel Cigarette Factory in Winston Salem, North Carolina, in 1948. Women are making and packing cigarettes.
