Vintage Cuban Cigars on Auction Block

Gregory Mottola
Posted: November 26, 2007

Cuban Davidoffs, rare Hoyo de Monterrey figurados and a host of other vintage Cuban, non-Cuban and pre-embargo cigars were auctioned recently at the annual Christie's of London cigar auction, many of which sold at the low end or below their pre-sale estimates. A number of the auction cigars, which were part of Christie's Fine and Rare Wines sale, came from esteemed British merchants such as Fox's of St. James and Dunhill of Jermyn Street while others were from private collections such as that of the late Earl of Litchfield.

The Che Guevara Limited Edition No. 5 Superiores Humidor (pictured), a striking Elie Bleu humidor, is crafted from red sycamore and features the visage of the famed Cuban revolutionary. Serialized as No. 8 of 50, it contains 68 cigars: 35 cigars measuring 4 7/8 by 49; 18 cigars measuring 7 5/8 by 49; and 15 cigars at 6 by 49. The lot also included a Che Guevara ashtray. This wasn't the first time that cigar collectors have seen this particular humidor: the very same one was put up for sale during a Christie's cigar auction last year, with an estimated value of £5,000 to £6,000, but it never sold. This time around, it came into the auction with a lower estimated pre-sale value of £4,500 to £5,500 (about $9,240 to $11,300) and it sold for £4,000 (about $8,200).

For more on this story, see the current issue of Cigar Insider.

Photo Courtesy of Christie's of London

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