Abstract: A cigarette carton assembly for 10 packages of cigarettes can be tax stamped using automated tax stamping machinery; and later divided into 2 half carton assemblies, each containing 5 packages of cigarettes. Each of the half carton assemblies have cigarette packages positioned therein in a 1 by 5 configuration. The carton assembly includes a collar which acts as a top portion of the carton assembly, and allows the carton assembly to be taxed stamped using automated tax stamping machinery. Then, the collar can be removed from the carton assembly, and the remaining carton assembly can be subdivided into two half carton assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plurality of manufactured cigarettes adapted to be arranged in a packaged configuration thereof. Each of the cigarettes include a rod of smokable material contained in a circumscribing paper wrapper (i.e., a "smokable rod"). Each of the smokable rods have a plurality of substantially flat sides and have at least one crease longitudinally extending substantially along the total length thereof. Preferably, each of the smokable rods includes a pair of creases longitudinally extending substantially along the length thereof to define one of the flat sides. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing cigarettes adapted to be arranged in a packaged configuration. The method includes providing a plurality of cigarettes including a smokable rod having a substantially circular or oval cross-section, and applying a compressive pressure to the smokable rods to provide a plurality of flat sides and at least one crease in the smokable rod.