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Cigars/Montecristo #2 box

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Expert: - 10/15/2007


Question
Hi James,

I have a box of Montecristo #2 with the tiendas intur stamp but no date stamps or factory stamps at all.

The habanos label and the tax stamp look legit. The bottom of the box has the usual woodburned Hecho in Cuba etc. and the atiendas intur stamp is stamped in grayish ink over the tax stamp.

Can you explain the dateless box?

Thanks,

Dave  

Answer
Hi Dave,

That’s an interesting box.  “Tiendas Intur” boxes are usually intended for sale within the Cuban tourism industry so that box would’ve been sold in airport kiosks, tourist stops or cigar shops at club resorts and restaurants.  I’m not sure why the box wouldn’t have a factory or date stamp.  Every dress box should be properly stamped before leaving the factory.  You mentioned that this is a Montecristo #2 box so I’m assuming it’s a traditional dress box that Montecristo #2s are commonly available in.  In this case, the box should be properly stamped so that we would know when it was produced.

It’s possible that during production, the box was taken from the factory after the labels were affixed but before the box was properly stamped and completed.  Black market cigar boxes missing certain labels or a vital stamp similar to your box of Montecristo #2 have been reported before so it seems that is what you might have.  Cuban cigar counterfeiters usually acquire their cigar boxes by recycling old cigar boxes or steal them from the factories.  In most cases, it’s an “inside-job” by employees that want to make a little extra money on the side.

I hope this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I’ll be happy to help.

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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