A cigar collection is often something its owner cared about a great deal, and something the family knows little about. There’s no need to rush, and no need to become an expert.
First, keep the cigars as they are
If the cigars are in a humidor, keep it running. If they’re in a cupboard or a cellar, leave them there for now rather than moving them somewhere warmer or drier. Don’t open sealed boxes.
Find out what you have
You don’t need to identify anything yourself. Photograph the humidor or shelves as a whole, the front of each box, and the bottom of each box, where the codes are stamped. A specialist can identify the cigars from those photos. See how to photograph cigar boxes.
Check who can sell
The cigars are part of the estate. Usually the executor or administrator has the authority to sell them, or someone acting with their agreement. A buyer will ask about this before buying.
Look for paperwork
Receipts, notes or a list kept by the collector can help establish where the cigars came from. They’re useful but not essential.
Decide whether to keep any
Some families keep a box or the humidor itself as a memento. It’s worth deciding that before you ask for offers.
Finding a buyer
For most estates, the simplest route is a specialist buyer who can review the whole collection and make one offer for it. Our guide where can I sell my cigar collection? compares the options. To have us look at a collection, see inherited cigar collections.
Have cigars to sell?
Tell us what you have. We’ll review it and tell you plainly whether it fits what we buy. There’s no obligation.
Submit your cigar inventory