Craftsmen of the smoke. The guild of cigars and cleaners of Lima in the 18th century

Abstract

During the second half of the 18th century an important reform promoted by the Royal Estate was the creation of estancos, especially the tobacco estanco. Its organization originated a systematized process to control the whole circuit of production, distribution and sale of tobacco. In this context, the union of cigarreros and limpioneros of Lima who processed and sold tobacco existed long before the estancos and adecuated its existence until its following dismantling.
The present article uncovers this particular process and the labor organization inside the union as well as its members, shops and everyone else involved in this role.