maeve- the old cigar boxes are collectable; leave them as they are, esp. if the colorful lithographs on the top are in good condition.
Some of the special order cigars (my grandfather ordered them direct) came in boxes that lacked the fancy labels and were rather well-made. My grandmother sometimes decorated, varnished and/or modified them as dresser boxes, etc. to hold small items. Somewhere we have one that is full of old buttons (Another collectable item- look at them on EBay, etc.).

Guest PMB is not entirely correct. Although it might be partly true today, the hardwoods used in crating are just what was and is available.

Not all of it went to the scrap heap. I have seen some of the smaller crates used as coffee tables, etc. that were well over 100 years old. I have also seen a few pieces, still with traces of labels, used as backs or bottoms of old cheap cabinets made for the poorer market.

And there are people like Willie-O searching out the stores receiving goods in these crates and putting the wood to good use.