A truly exceptional and historically significant collector's piece, this offering represents a unique convergence of French Cognac artistry and Greek bottling heritage. This is the Camus Cognac Bi-Centenaire Napoleon 1er, presented in the iconic Limoges porcelain book decanter. Specifically produced to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon Bonaparte's birth (1769-1969), this edition holds an additional layer of rarity.
While the decanter is a quintessential French creation from the esteemed House of Camus, the spirit itself was bottled in Greece by Vissaltis Dionysios S.A.. The Greek tax band seal firmly dates this specific bottling to 1988, making it a distinct and later release of the 1969 commemorative series. This Greek connection transforms the bottle from a celebrated Camus limited edition into a fascinating and scarce artifact of European spirits distribution history.
Presented in a deep green porcelain "book" with elaborate 22-karat gold detailing, this decanter is a testament to luxury and craftsmanship. The blend within is a classic Napoleon grade Cognac, known for its well-aged and complex character. This bottle is a must-have for discerning collectors of fine Cognac, historical decanters, and rare spirits with verifiable provenance.
The decanter is designed to resemble an antique book. The front panel features a detailed portrait of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte set within an ornate white and gold frame, accented with four golden imperial crowns. A small lower panel notes the contents as 70 cl and the strength as 40% vol. The spine is decorated with gold detailing to simulate a real book binding.
The back of the decanter is inscribed in gold with the commemorative text: "BI-CENTENAIRE DE L'EMPEREUR NAPOLÉON 1ER" and the dates "1769 1969". Below this, a prominent golden imperial eagle is displayed within a laurel wreath. A lower paper label contains Greek text, identifying the bottler as "ΒΥΣΣΑΛΤΗΣ ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ Α.Ε.Β.Ε." of Argyroupoli, Athens, and specifies the contents as KONIAK.
The top of the bottle features two distinct closures. One is a gold screw cap, while the other is a decorative green and gold ceramic topper with a cork stopper. The crucial dating information comes from the paper tax band which covers both closures. This seal reads "Λ. 13/1988 ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ" (Hellenic Republic) and mentions the bottler's name, confirming the 1988 bottling year for the Greek market. A red circular stamp from the Greek customs office ("ΤΕΛΩΝΕΙΟΝ") is also present. The overall condition of the porcelain and its intricate detailing appears excellent, preserving the heritage of this unique release.
This product is from a private seller. Please be aware that cabinet7 merely provides a platform to buy and sell. When sold, the seller will pack the bottle themselves and send it to the buyer. We do our best to make this process as smooth as possible, however there may be some delay.
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Max von Olfers
Max von Olfers is the founder of cabinet7, and has 10 years of experience with collector item appraisals. The oldest Cognac Max has consumed is from 1855.
Malte Lukowski
Malte Lukowski runs the operations & collector item departments at cabinet7, and has 4 years of experience with collector item appraisals. The oldest Cognac Malte has consumed is from 1920.
