A typical cigarette case is a flat box (commonly made of metal) that opens symmetrically into two halves.
A cigarette box, much like a cigar humidor, is a larger case or tin, often stored on desktops or coffee tables.
[4][5] At the opening of each of his new Broadway productions, Cole Porter's wife, Linda, presented him with a cigarette case from Cartier.
Each was more beautiful than the last, in gold, silver or leather, many studded with gems and generally styled to relate to that show's theme.
Cigarette cases were a way to avoid the invasive labels (another way being various satirical stickers, with slogans such as "You could be hit by a bus tomorrow").