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Posted

I found this box recently in a private collection

Even though everything seems to be authentic I don't find any info on these

The band is also rather intriguing

Any thoughts?

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Posted

, but it looks like some beetles had some lunch on the first two sticks from the left. Near the caps.

i'm afraid you're wrong

the pic is not of the best quality

i have hands on view

Posted

Dutch or Belgian tax bands are the funky bands but I have no idea about anything else, only ever heard of the privada #1 but there were so many Partagas vitola a few decades ago I wouldn't be surprised for there to be a #4 or #9!

The actual cigars look old but the box looks to be quite fresh/bright but that doesn't really mean too much.

How do they smell, you can never fake the aroma of aged Partagas tobacco

The 'Privada #4' font on the side of the box is the same as what was use on the Astorias boxes

Late 80's maybe? Looking forward to hearing other's thoughts on these, they look tasty!

Posted

Another amazing find by the man who has found almost everything already :D

Posted

Very interesting find! Thanks for sharing!

Late 80's maybe? Looking forward to hearing other's thoughts on these, they look tasty!

Seems like these are from 1984 or earlier since there is no Cubatobaco stamp on the box, which was introduced in 1985. Seeing the tax band and the absence of any information on these makes me wonder if these might be some kind of regional release?!? As far as I know Habanos was doing small batch releases for certain valued vendors/merchants as early as the 1990s. Something that was continued post 2000 on national official importer level; probably the root of todays RE program.

Does anyone know when these tax bands where introduced?

Damn, I'd love to try one of these...

Posted

Would it be possible to contact the Partagas El Libro writer (Amir Saarony)? Having just written a book about the history of the marca, he should be able to give some expertise.

Further, maybe you can find some info on the second band, I see Prijs and Fr. so it should be Belgian Francs, there must be a database with prices for all the cigars somewhere.

Posted

As far as I know Habanos was doing small batch releases for certain valued vendors/merchants as early as the 1990s. Something that was continued post 2000 on national official importer level; probably the root of todays RE program.

In the 80's and 90's, almost all the cigar merchants in Switzerland (plus a few others in Europe) have commissioned cigars for their shop. A common practice. But if it were the case here the name of the merchant or the shop should be printed or stamped somewhere.

Since this practice didn't go through the "official" importer, I don't see the relation with a RE program…

Posted

Another amazing find by the man who has found almost everything already :D

i can assure you i don,t have everything

but since there,s a belgian tax band i,ll make inquiries with the importer

i have a meeting with them tomorrow anyway

i,ll also discuss it with amir

as the dating is concerned, there,s some writing in pencil.... 81

i,m not sure this is a specially commissioned release but will try to find things out

any other help is welcome!

Posted

Are the measurements the same as the No. 1?

no they,re not

i,ll measure things soon

allways fun to find out new things....

Posted

In the 80's and 90's, almost all the cigar merchants in Switzerland (plus a few others in Europe) have commissioned cigars for their shop. A common practice. But if it were the case here the name of the merchant or the shop should be printed or stamped somewhere.

Since this practice didn't go through the "official" importer, I don't see the relation with a RE program…

Sorry, my comment might have been misleading. I do not see a direct relation either. What I was trying to express was that the specially commissioned stuff for official importers from 1999 on, like the 5th Avenue Aniversary release, might be the Root for the RE program. And that official importer stuff might habe been inspired by those merchant exclusive releases.

Posted

Great looking box! As long as the bands, construction, and smell are good, don't worry about the rest.

BTW... as surprising as it is, MRN doesn't have pictures of every single vitola ever produced. No need to think twice if it's not in his book.

Posted

got an answer from the importer:

in 1981 not all cuban brands were allocated to Robert Suter NV

this only happened in 1982

from these early years we don't have product cards etc

we started keeping these from '91 onwards

interesting information, but not a fulfilling answer

i'll check with amir

Posted

i'm coming closer to an answer

even though amir also had no idea about this box, he told me that at a certain point j fox had the exlusivity for partagas

then i noticed the ribbon had a special lock i've seen before on fox selection boxes

therefore it might be possible the answer will be found at j fox

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in the meantime i've asked simon chase if he has some info

if that's also negative i'll have to turn to david mc grane

any other habano savants that could shed their light on this topic?

Posted

Well, these popper locks are on all the Seleccion Privada Boxes, arent they? Attached photo is from a friend of mine and also posted on zigarrenforum-online.de

post-17060-137512570612.jpg

Posted

i,ll check tomorrow

i,m sure i have a box of the sel privada no 1 but don,t remember having a box with such a ribbon

Posted

I dont own a box of these myself, but here is another pic from another guy I know, as well posted in the same forum as above:

post-17060-13751336893766.jpg

Posted

just checked

it seems i don't have a box of par sel priv no 1 :(

guess i'll have to hunt this one down

you're right this seems a feature of the seleccion privada

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