Inherited a box of old CC's - dating question

[Phillycyclocross]

My great uncle just died and he was an occasional smoker of cigars. We were cleaning out his house and we found an old styrofoam cooler of cigars. There are a bunch of unopened boxes of Hoyo De Monterrey cigars from NI and a couple random Quinterro's but there is 2/3 box of Monticristo Number 4's. Everything looks old. Some of the art work looks like it's from 70's. Could be older. My family is from Cuba back in the early 60's. Don't think it's that old but maybe? I can't find a date on the box anywhere. There is a serial number on the box and a barely recognizable stamp on the bottom of the box.

Anyone know a possible way I could date these?

Thanks in advance.

[Colt45]

As always, a great place to start:

Link

[Phillycyclocross]

Thanks for the link but there is no date code on the bottom of the box.

See below.

[Drguano]

The bar code caught my eye. They were first used in mid 1974 on packets of gum. It doesn't help date the box as it could have been put on an old box.

[Habana Mike]

No date code? Oh, but there is!

NNUS-SS-2

That would be the old NIVELACUSO (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0) code

11/89 Sancti Spiritus factory

Cubatabaco with the leaf was stamped on boxes between 85-94

If you want to sell, I'll pay double the price!

[garbandz]

Barcode? on a box from the 60s?

tax stamp on the bottom?

more pics needed.........

[Colt45]

Thanks for the link but there is no date code on the bottom of the box.

If you scroll down a bit, it shows that the Cubatabaco Hecho En Cuba stamp would be from 1984 to 1999, which would match up with the warranty seal. I'm hoping someone can shed some light on the blue tax / duty / etc sticker.

[CaptainQuintero]

More pics! Of the cigars, top and bottom of boxes

Initial looks, based on the code and number of farmers you can see on the label look positive.

[cigarsmoke]

That box is real in my opinion. All labels and box stamps cooinside with 1989 time frame. The box was sold in Spain and has the blue tax label.

Bob

[Phillycyclocross]

Thanks everyone! Guess I need to brush up on my CC decoding skills. Awesome info. I think I will keep these for another 26 years.

I will take pics of the Quintero's tomorrow as they are still in a cooler in a room with my sleeping kids. They aren't in the best shape. The Monticristo's are in immaculate shape. I will post pics of those too

[CigarEnthusiast]

No date code? Oh, but there is!

NNUS-SS-2

That would be the old NIVELACUSO (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0) code

11/89 Sancti Spiritus factory

Cubatabaco with the leaf was stamped on boxes between 85-94

If you want to sell, I'll pay double the price!

I'll up the ante and pay TRIPLE!!!

[shlomo]

Nice find. Sorry about your great uncle.

[Smallclub]

That box is real in my opinion. All labels and box stamps cooinside with 1989 time frame. The box was sold in Spain and has the blue tax label.

Bob

Boxes sold in Spain are not priced in US $. Even if the price of "$39.45" could match that of a box of 10 in 1989.

And a box sold in Spain should bear the Altadis sticker.

[Phillycyclocross]

Some follow up pics for y'all

[CoCigarSmoker]

I'm not the most knowledgeable person on the forum, but I would get these guys in a humidor ASAP!!!! I'd start working them into a humid environment slowly though. I'd start with the low mid 50's RH and let them sit for a week, then up the RH to 55-58, then leave them for a week, then up the RH to 60-63 and see if you can bring them back to life. My only worry would be that it would seem they have been pretty dry for a long time. If that is the case they will be extremely delicate and in much need of moisture, just be careful not to throw them into a 72 RH humidor straight out of the gate. I'm sure others with much more experience can chime in with better advice.

Amazing find, but I am sorry for your loss. All the best!

Just my .02

Seth

[Smallclub]

A box of 25 Monte 4, priced in US$, and at $39.45?????

[TypicalSituation]

Some follow up pics for y'all

I'm curious about what the book is in there.???

[cigarsmoke]

Boxes sold in Spain are not priced in US $. Even if the price of "$39.45" could match that of a box of 10 in 1989.

And a box sold in Spain should bear the Altadis sticker.

Altadis was only formed in 1999 so there would not be an Altadis label.

This box dates to 1989 according to the box code. In addition if you could see the rest of the tax seal it would say "Minsterio De Economia Y Hacienda ESPANA" This box was imported from Cuba into Spain. (That is what I originally should have said)As far as being priced in US $, It was probably sold to third party country that prices in US Dollars catering to US tourists. Of course this is a best guess. I recall a box of Mont 4's being approx $65 retail back in 1989 so that is a bit off. Possibly an error by the stock boy....lol

Bob

[oliverdst]

Altadis was only formed in 1999 so there would not be an Altadis label.

This box dates to 1989 according to the box code. In addition if you could see the rest of the tax seal it would say "Minsterio De Economia Y Hacienda ESPANA" This box was imported from Cuba into Spain. (That is what I originally should have said)As far as being priced in US $, It was probably sold to third party country that prices in US Dollars catering to US tourists. Of course this is a best guess. I recall a box of Mont 4's being approx $65 retail back in 1989 so that is a bit off. Possibly an error by the stock boy....lol

Bob

You know what you are talking about. Very good.

[Smallclub]

As far as being priced in US $, It was probably sold to third party country that prices in US Dollars catering to US tourists. Of course this is a best guess. I recall a box of Mont 4's being approx $65 retail back in 1989 so that is a bit off. Possibly an error by the stock boy....lol

Bob

You're right about Altadis, but I'd be curious to know which country, in 1989, could sell habanos imported initially in Spain, in US$, and at a price below retail spanish price... to US tourists for whom this purchase would have been illegal... etc.

[Phillycyclocross]

Well a little background on my great uncle. He traveled to most every country in the world. He told everyone he was a staple salesman but too many things point to other grey government contracting type work if you know what I mean. He was also a notorious cheapskate. If anyone could find a box of cigars with the wrong price or talk the cashier in circles until he paid the price he wanted it was my great uncle.

[Smallclub]

Well a little background on my great uncle. He traveled to most every country in the world.

Including the Middle East? Could be the beginning of an explanation...

[Guybrush]

I'm curious about what the book is in there.???

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cigar-Companion-Connoisseurs-Guide/dp/0762401427

[cigarsmoke]

You're right about Altadis, but I'd be curious to know which country, in 1989, could sell habanos imported initially in Spain, in US$, and at a price below retail spanish price... to US tourists for whom this purchase would have been illegal... etc.

It is a given that cc's are illegal for American's to buy since 1962. That has not stopped us from buying them as you well know. The pricing as I said is incorrect. It is possible that when priced they incorrectly used their wholesale price and didn't mark up as they should have. This just a guess. Any number of things could have happened and caused the wrong pricing.

A good guess where they could have been picked up was in the Canary Islands (a Spanish territory)priced in US Dollars. Of course this is just a reasonable guess. Many island territories of larger countries price in US dollars to the tourists. Go to any Caribbean Island and this is generally true. These economies run on US dollars more so then their local currencies.

Bob

[Phillycyclocross]

Including the Middle East? Could be the beginning of an explanation...

Yep lots there and lots in Central America.