Peterson Dublin & London 999 Smooth Rhodesian Estate Briar Pipe, Irish Estates

Description

Peterson pipes generally need no introduction, but just in case you’re unfamiliar: in 1876, a Latvian named Charles Peterson immigrated to Ireland and was hired making pipes in a workshop owned by Frederick and George Kapp. After rising through the ranks to become head craftsman, Peterson bought into the Kapp’s business, which was renamed, Kapp & Peterson (K&P). During this time, Peterson himself applied for several patents for pipe designs, including the world-famous Peterson’s System. Since then, Peterson has become one of the most recognizable names in pipe smoking and continues to produce high quality pipes from their headquarters in Dublin.

As far as names go, “Dublin & London” is rather unassuming. Of course, historically, it points back to a time in the mid-20th century when Peterson pipes were manufactured both in Ireland (Dublin) and England (London), where it maintained its two factories. Even if, hypothetically, one was transported back to the 1950s, however, “Dublin & London” doesn’t command the same attention and intrigue as, say, “Supreme.” Yet Mark Irwin of Peterson Pipe Notes and The Peterson Pipe suggests that, during the years of its production, the Dublin & London might indeed have been equivalent to the Supreme grade Petersons made for the US market, through Rogers Imports, Inc. His co-author for The Peterson Pipe, Gary Malmberg, is reported to have also considered this a possibility.
Peterson re-introduced the Dublin & London in 2016, and though it remained a premium line, it had nonetheless undergone significant design changes. Unlike the one seen here, the 2016 version featured a silver collar and honey-ish acrylic mouthpiece. This is one of the earlier iterations and is, quite fittingly, rendered in Peterson’s classic “John Bull” bullmoose Rhodesian shape, the 999. It’s a finely grained piece, lending yet more credence to Irwin and Malmberg’s theory.

The condition is fair. Minor rim darkening, chamber slightly over-reamed, and a nick in the briar at the front of the bowl, just at the bead-line (see photos).

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.16″ / 29.46mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g