HOW COLLECTABLE ARE VINTAGE CIGARS? Ever since Christie's became the first auction house to hold sales devoted exclusively to cigars the Gotham Cigar Museum became facinated with vintage rare cigars. Cigars offered range from rare vintage boxes from the turn of the 20th century to vintage cigars from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. London, March 10 -- Christie's London, the world's acknowledged leader in procuring and selling rare cigars at auction, sold 476,000 pounds ($752,080) of vintage Cuban cigars and humidors yesterday during its largest Cuban cigar sale of the year. Some 461 lots of superb Cuban cigars and humidors were on the block. Pre-sale estimates ranged from 100-10,000 pounds ($161- $16,100), with about 98 percent of the lots sold. The last vintage Cuban cigar sale of this size was May 20, 1999, when Christie's had 200 lots on offer. Brian Ebbesen, a Christie's cigar specialist, said the sale was a great success and buyers from around the world participated. The highest price, 8,800 pounds, was paid for a cabinet of 100 Partagas Churchills manufactured in Havana in 1973. The lot had a pre-sale estimate of 3,000-4,000 pounds. Based on U.S. prices, each of those Partagas Churchills is worth about $139. Davidoff Demand
As expected, Cuban-made Davidoff cigars attracted spirited bidding as aficionados seek a dwindling supply of this product. Lot 170, a box of 10 Davidoff 80th Aniversario cigars (9 1/4 inches by 47 gauge) produced at the El Laguito factory in Havana sold for 4,600 pounds, compared with pre-sale estimates of 2,500- 3,000 pounds. The cigars in lot 170 were rolled at El Laguito (currently the Cohiba factory) in 1985 using tobacco leaf from Cuba's 1984 harvest. Two full boxes, 25 cigars in each, of Davidoff Dom Perignon (7 inches by 47 gauge) sold for 6,800 pounds and 6,500 pounds, respectively. Pre-sale estimates for each lot was 4,500-6,000 pounds. Prior to sale, the cigars were held in the humidor of the Davidoff boutique in London. The difference in price between the two lots can be explained by their vintage. The first box, lot 174, was manufactured in 1986, while the second box, lot 175, was produced in 1988. Cigar collectors are known to pay a premium for older cigars. Another full box of Davidoff Dom Perignon cigars from the 1980's sold for 6,000 pounds, in line with previous pre-sale estimates. A part box of 23 Davidoff Dom Perignon cigars sold for 5,000 pounds, compared with pre-sale estimates of 4,000-5,000 pounds. A lot containing only two Davidoff Dom Perignon cigars sold for 350 pounds. For U.S. collectors that puts the value of each cigar at about $237 based on today's exchange rate of about 1.58. Two lots with 6 boxes each of Davidoff Dom Perignon cigars (original four-pack cardboard boxes totaling 24 cigars) sold for 5,500 pounds each, compared with pre-sale estimates of 4,200-5,500 pounds. Two cabinets, 50 cigars in each cabinet, of 1960's Partagas Serie D No. 3 Belicosos (5 1/2 inches by 48 gauge) sold for 3,600 pounds, compared with pre-sale estimates of 1,600-2,000 pounds. Lots 38 though lots 46, Dunhill Cabinetta, 25 cigars in each cabinet (4 7/8 inches by 50 gauge), sold for 4,000 pounds per-lot, compared with pre-sale estimates of 2,600-3,500 pounds. Upmann Coronas
Five "Office Jars'' of Cuban H. Upmann Coronas (5 1/2 inches by 42 gauge) from the 1960's with 50 cigars in each jar sold for 4,400 pounds each, compared with pre-sale estimates of 2,500-3,500 pounds. Lot 219, a part cabinet of 30 Montecristo B's (5 3/8 inches by 42 gauge) dating from the 1980's sold for 6,500 pounds, compared with pre-sale estimates of 2,000-3,000 pounds. A box of 10 Dunhill Estupendos (7 inches by 47 gauge) in tubes and dating from 1985 sold for 4,000 pounds, compared with pre-sale estimates of 2,000-2,500 pounds. A cabinet of 50 pre-Cuban embargo Don Candid Dunhill Seleccion Suprema No. 500 (6 1/2 inches by 50 gauge) dated 1960, and formerly belonging to the late Yule Brynner sold for 3,900 pounds, compared with per-sale estimates of 3,500-4,500 pounds. Lot 440, a Romeo y Julieta humidor dating from the 1970's and holding 125 assorted sized Romeo y Julieta cigars sold for 4,000 pounds, compared with pre-sale estimates of 5,000-7,000 pounds. One box of five Hoyo de Monterrey Particulares (9 1/2 inches by 55 gauge) sold for 3,300 pounds, on par with pre-sale estimates. The cigars dated from the 1970's and were packed in individual wooden boxes. A box of 25 1975 Ramon Allones Gigantes (7 5/8 inches by 49 gauge) in ``fabulous'' condition sold for 3,600 pounds, compared with pre-sale estimates of 1,000-1,500 pounds. Based on U.S. prices the Gigantes were worth about $228 each. ``Honestly, these were the most beautiful cigars in the auction,'' David Wainwright, another Christie's cigar expert said. ``The Ramon Allones in this box were some of the finest examples of this cigar that I've ever seen.'' The auction was in response to the growing international interest in vintage cigars by avid collectors and aficionados. An expert on vintage cigars, Ebbesen said he sees the market expanding, especially as the supply of pre- revolution cigars is dwindling quickly as they are being sold and smoked, not saved. |