Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars


Recommended Posts

So while I was in Antwerp at the La Casa Del Habano having a smoke last week I ran across this book. It was incredible and very insightful. I just looked it up on Amazon and they want $750 USD for a copy. As much as I'd like to have it, for that price I can fly my wife to Tokoyo when I'm there later this year!  

Anyone have any recommendations for a similar book that won't break the bank?  As much as I love Cubancigarwebsite.com I like to sit and read a real book at times too. Especially when having a smoke and a coffee.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 61
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

I bought my copy for less than $100 new in 2005. I recall for around $100 it could be signed by MRN through a forum connection as well... I too was shocked at the recent price on Amazon. Apparent

A few comments on these points: -Almost all of the typos were corrected for the 2004 edition. I do come across a letter or two out of place occasionally but the 2004 ed. is pretty tight. -I

Who would have thought the book on cigars from 2004 would appreciate to the same degree as actual 2004 cigars! 

I collect a lot of books and my old boss owns this book. It is beautiful but I would never spend that much on that book. I think my max would be about $250. You could buy some nice boxes for that chunk of change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Exactly my issue. The price of the book I can buy lots of fun stuff.  I guess I'll just have to print out every page of ccw and put it on my coffee table for a good read hahaha.  Then again that much ink and paper I could probably buy the book 5 times over lol!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought my copy for less than $100 new in 2005. I recall for around $100 it could be signed by MRN through a forum connection as well...

I too was shocked at the recent price on Amazon. Apparently there weren't as many copies produced as I thought.

Unfortunately, that book is one of a kind and quite definitive. Almost all of CCW's info through 2004 is culled from MRN--but at least there is CCW. Prior to that, unless you had MRN you were dead in the water, particularly when it came to the pre-early 90s era. Now at least there's CCW but there's still lots of info in MRN not found on CCW, and I must admit I love having the hard copy book in my hands. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I snatched up the Spanish version for around $100 from a used bookseller in Spain, but then they hit me up for hefty additional shipping charges. I felt I was being taken for a ride so didn't ultimately buy the thing. It has since disappeared from the site so some other enterprising smoker must have snapped it up. My loss, I guess. I do have a high-quality PDF scan of the Spanish version but it's not the same as holding the book.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Nrengle said:

So while I was in Antwerp at the La Casa Del Habano having a smoke last week I ran across this book. It was incredible and very insightful. I just looked it up on Amazon and they want $750 USD for a copy. As much as I'd like to have it, for that price I can fly my wife to Tokoyo when I'm there later this year!  

Anyone have any recommendations for a similar book that won't break the bank?  As much as I love Cubancigarwebsite.com I like to sit and read a real book at times too. Especially when having a smoke and a coffee.

MRN Encyclopedia circa 2003 (2005 second edition?) is an incredible resource and as reference material probably can't be beat although I do seem to recall the author trying to outdo himself with a multi volume edition that was very expensive. Not sure if that ever got released though, it seemed like a Herculean undertaking.

So, I can't recommend a similar book. However, if you're looking for a nice book on cigars that looks good on your coffee table, my current favorite is:

The Havana Cigar: Cuba's Finest
Charles Del Todesco
ISBN-10: 0789203278
ISBN-13: 978-0789203274

Hope this helps!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

:coverears:  YEEEOUCH, that's a high-a price!!!  All I can recommend is the diligent, patient perusing of Ebay, Amazon, and some independent private bookstores on the web, and KEEP SEARCHING. That's how I obtained my copy of Min Ron Nee's Post Havana Illustrated Encyclopedia. I paid $60 for mine because I found a group on the web that was purchasing it as a group buy or some such. That was about eleven years ago, so I have no way of knowing who they are anymore. Best of good luck to you in your search. I know when there's something I truly and painfully want, but the price is to where I'd have to practically mortgage my house in order to obtain it - I just keep up the search as described. Eventually you'll find a copy that will fit your budget more. My humble 2 cts. :yes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Check EBay I have seen several recently for about 300 dollars. If you don't need it right away just check every now and then and you may find one for way cheaper then 750. When I travel I normally stop into second hand bookstores and have found some nice finds for other cigar books but I'm always hoping to run into this one.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Frinkiac7 said:

I snatched up the Spanish version for around $100 from a used bookseller in Spain, but then they hit me up for hefty additional shipping charges. I felt I was being taken for a ride so didn't ultimately buy the thing. It has since disappeared from the site so some other enterprising smoker must have snapped it up. My loss, I guess. I do have a high-quality PDF scan of the Spanish version but it's not the same as holding the book.

Johnny O has the new Spanish version for cheap as a FYI

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Dear Friend of mine just put this book out on Amazon....... He is a very stand-up guy who loves All things Cuba. Help him in the launching of his book. Great pics, articles, PRICE!!!! Thank you in advance, brothers.

 

 

IMG_3832.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, bugman78629 said:

A Dear Friend of mine just put this book out on Amazon....... He is a very stand-up guy who loves All things Cuba. Help him in the launching of his book. Great pics, articles, PRICE!!!! Thank you in advance, brothers.

 

 

IMG_3832.jpg

Very nice guy. I didnt know he was working in a book

http://cubancigarsculturelifestyle.blogspot.com.br/2016/06/cuban-cigar-handbook-on-amazon-by.html?m=1

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Johnny has a Spanish-language edition for US$200 still in shrink wrap. I found one on a Spanish auction site for 85 EUR...kicker is 40 EUR shipping to the U.S. D'oh! Still mad that I missed out on the last one, but in the end I'm pulling the trigger on this one and shelling out $10 more. Fool me once....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As much as I'd love it. I can't read Spanish and honestly don't want to learn. I'm having hard enough time learning German (off and on for 8 years now hahaha).

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On June 25, 2016 at 2:50 PM, Frinkiac7 said:

Amazon.de has a German version for 95 EUR I think...if you want to continue practicing!

Ha!  I'm learning more from my German pyro guys  ow than I have I. The last few years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i remember that it was actually released about the time we made our first trip to cuba back in 2003. it was $75, from memory. we knew nothing about it but it looked good and i took thee plunge. never regretted it. fabulous book. 

it might sound odd to say that a text about cigars was not-put-downable but i remember one arvo starting to read it. did not stop till i had read every word. 

the only thing i did regret was the extra weight in my already way over luggage. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Whoever had the pdf file of it could you hit me up. I can at least have some reading material on the bus at night and the plane the next few months?  Till I can find me a reasonably priced copy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Info - Out of stock on Amazon, but quite a few new on eBay shops.

Sent from my HTC One M8s using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, demer said:

Is there a reason that he just doesn't reprint it? 

i'd guess because it is somewhat out of date. i believe enormous work has gone into the next edition but the price is beyond comprehension. that said, if i won the lottery, i'd be all over it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

i'd guess because it is somewhat out of date. i believe enormous work has gone into the next edition but the price is beyond comprehension. that said, if i won the lottery, i'd be all over it. 

Yes, it certainly looks like it will be a masterwork, taking everything in the first two editions even further with all new photography and actual items not seen before. Here's the best info I could find on its status and delay; it was projected to be released in 2014 but the enormity of the work and attention to detail apparently was underestimated: https://lights-sirens-and-cigars.com/2014/10/14/the-mrn-2nd-edition-encyclopaedia-full-delay-details-and-follow-up/

Unfortunately, with over a dozen new releases of one sort or another every year there's really no good time to finalize it. By my count, there have been around 260 cigars released since the 2004 edition. What an enormous undertaking it must be to acquire and photograph every single regional release!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Community Software by Invision Power Services, Inc.