You are currently viewing 179. A Look at Recent Italian-Market Petersons

179. A Look at Recent Italian-Market Petersons

I have been meaning for some time to remind everyone of Peterson’s amazing “Italian” pipes—not made in Italy, but made in collaboration with Mario Lubinski of Lubinski.it since the late 1970s. I first became aware of these pipes through the internet and only gradually came to understand Mario’s passion for Kapp & Peterson and the dozens of original lines and novel finishes, all mid-to-high grade, he’s created over almost fifty years now with old Peterson legends like Tony Dempsey, Jimmy Nicholson and Paddy Larrigan and more recent craftsmen and women like Tony Whelan, Sr., Tony Whelan, Jr., David Blake, Teresa Lynham and Joe Kenny.

If you search the blog for “Lubinski” you can see many of the great Italian lines and issues identified in detail, or you can just cruise the Lubinski catalog, bearing in mind some of the lines are not longer in production. The last Lubinski I have any knowledge of was the incredible Rogha natural virgin limited edition he released through Sansonne Smoke Shop in May 2018, but a look at his current catalog listings shows there’s some new lines since then.

I wondered whether Mario’s collaborative creations with Peterson ceased about the time of the Roghas and not long ago asked Glen Whelan, director of sales at Peterson, about it. He replied: “I can absolutely confirm that Mario is still very much active and we are actually trying to plan together a time for him to come over to visit us here and chat about some Italian exclusive lines. So we will see plenty more Italian market Petes!” This being the case, I thought I’d have a look around to see what was still available from Italian sites and give pipe smokers, especially in the US, heads-up on how to go about ordering if they’ve never done so.

New old stock is not uncommon on Italian sites

Unlike US and some other markets, the Italian on-line shops seem to carry what I can only describe as a “hand-picked” selection, mostly eschewing gateway (entry-level) pipes for some very individual and often amazing selections. Also unlike US markets, the Italians seem content to make these purchases knowing that they may not sell a piece for years. Case in point, Santa brought me a 1979 4s Supreme two Christmases ago, new/old stock, courtesy Tabaccheria Rizzi, waiting 40 years for me to come along.

The new/old stock XL20 (Rathbone) Dublin Silver Cap Sandblast seen in the top banner is the kind of thing that I’m talking about. It’s hallmarked Q for 2001, just ten years into the Dublin era (1991-2018), with an amazing blast and stain. There were several other SH shapes in the series, but this one, due to the bend of the vulcanite mouthpiece, has the grace and charm of the old Dunhill swan necks to me. It was 220 euros, or $237.00 US, which is amazing considering the vintage, blast and sterling work.

Now if you’ve never bought from the Italians before, there’s a few things you should know that will make the ordering process easier:

  • First, the pipe you’re wanting probably won’t disappear before you can make a few email exchanges—unlike pipes on a certain US site.
  • Second, the Italians are amazingly courteous and quite happy to hold a pipe or let you put it in layaway and pay it off.
  • Third, language can sometimes be a tricky thing and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask them. Expect to wait a day or even two to get an answer—or even more during the current COVID-19 crisis.
  • Payment is easiest and safest through PayPal, where you can always file a claim if something doesn’t turn out right. If you elect to pay with a credit card, you may want to contact your company before placing the order. I’ve had several pipes declined by my credit card because I’d never shopped overseas at a particular establishment before.
  • And finally, there’s shipping. Most Italian sites can have you pipe to you 3 days after they ship (which usually takes a day or two), which is better than most any US dealer. Having said that, if the Italian shop goes through FedEx at any point, the latter will sting you with an import tax between $20 and $30. DHL three-day shipping doesn’t seem to incur this penalty on the consumer. But the absolutely worst thing you can do is have it shipped Royal Italian Post. I checked out too quickly from LePipe on the XL20 and didn’t even see the DHL option so that the pipe took from November 29th to December 24th to arrive. And I’ve heard stories of pipes sent by Royal Italian Post never arriving at all!

Here’s a few pipes that tickled my fancy earlier this week. Life has been amazingly stressful of late (at least for me), and if you find you need a stress break yourself, what better way than to browse some beautiful Petes? Pack your own favorite Pete and either click on any of the Italian sites listed under “Pete Sites & Shops” on the right side of the blog, or if you want to go straight to the Peterson selection, simply click on the name of the shop below.

 

Bolittopipe.it

 

A NOS original-bowl-shaped Darwin / B42

—not the re-frazed ones that have been coming out for the past two years or so. $131. That’s not a vulcanite stem, but at least it’s the original bowl!

An 05 Vintage Amber P-Lip (with extra acrylic fishtail bit).

Note the “AB” or shouldered amber mount—it would originally not have been sheathed in a spigot, but even so, it’s quite fetching.

A 9B Natural DeLuxe.

Although Smokingpipes ordered some of these tapered space-fitting stems a few years ago, I believe the original idea was Mario Lubinski’s. $247.

 

 

Floppypipe.it

An Irish Made Army at 87 euros in the very unusual D6 shape!

Castle Collection (2009)

Surely one of the last-remaining Castle Collections on the planet—640 euros, but I think I forgot to subtract for VAT.

And here is the rarest thing I’ve seen: a Kapp & Peterson leather and buckram book presentation case with two Supreme 80s pipes, one with a solid amber band and one with a silver cap. From 1978. You can see a better photo of a presentation case in the Peterson book on p. 292. 620 euros.


And a B37 in the Linseed blast.

Neither the line nor the shape has been available for quite some time. It has a sterling band with acrylic fishtail mouthpiece. 150 euros.

 

 

Tobaccheriatoto13.it

An amazingly wide-brimmed
Patent-era vintage nickel cap 264. 256 euros.

 

XL23 Ashford, sterling mount, 140 euros.

 

A Silver Wind cap 03 Natural. 428 euros.

 

LePipe.it

 

A 230 natural with Irish Free State-era nickel cap, 230 euros.

The XL5B DeLuxe Natural.

What the Original Sherlock Holmes might have been? 213 euros.

Patent-Era Vintage Windcap, 105.

And another great Patent-era nickel wind cap, this time on a 105 (I think). 238 euros.

 

Novelli.it

Looks like a System to me… A 12 or 12 1/2?

Listed as a sterling army in natural, P-Lip with aluminum P. $135.

 

This looks like the 2013 POY /  B62.

A Rock of Cashel, sterling mount with marmalade acrylic, in the B shape catalog. $128.

 

Tabaccheria Guzzi.

Tabaccheria Guzzi has an eBay store as well as its own online site. There is considerable overlap in stock, but there are pipes on each site that are not on the other. At this writing, Guzzi has the largest selection of Italian-market Petes available.

 

And one of the last FE’s still on the retail market! $400.

 

Rosslare Sandblast XL90, $234.

 


Ashford B49, $188.

Kapp Royal B61, $244.

 

Tabaccheria Rizzi.

 

XL339s Gold Supreme Spigot, c. 1978.

And to close the post, an XL339S Spigot, probably first issue from 1978 or 1979.  262 euros.

Photos courtesy all the fine Italian etailers above.
Banner photo C. Mundungus

 

Off topic:
I found out yesterday that an article I wrote
about Dirk Heinemann, one of my favorite artisans,

has recently been published online here.

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

20 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
John Schantz
John Schantz
4 years ago

Apparently some joker beat me to the Silver WindCap 03. Probably a good thing since I am furloughed from my job. I should thank that “joker”?.

Jorgen Jensen
Jorgen Jensen
4 years ago

Good morning. I hope everyone are doing well. Here the schools will open after Easter for the smaller children.
I remember that Paddy Larrigan in 1994 showed us a drawer with bowls collected for Italy .Birds eyes and straight grains. Today I am going to The Pipe Shop – open a few days a week – to get some more tobacco at old prices. I just saw he have a
x 105 amber spigot at a fair price. I have to ask the madam if I can buy.

Stephen
Stephen
4 years ago
Reply to  Jorgen Jensen

Jorgen,
Remember it is easier to get forgiveness than permission!

Linwood
Linwood
4 years ago

This is your fault – adding to my list of pipe sites to peruse – but A XL339 Spigot!!! I didn’t need to buy a pipe now! BUT, I’ve been after one since 1979, when for the Christmas season the Tinder Box I worked for had one – I’ve never forgotten it, and now you’re responsible – I’m telling my wife to contact YOU. (fyi – yes I put it in the cart – tho’ it doesn’t seem to have “caught” yet. I emailed them, but no reply….)

Linwood
Linwood
4 years ago

AND the 9 Deluxe with the taper bit – I gotta sell something!

Ralle
Ralle
4 years ago

Hello Mark and all you others. I hope that everything is fine with you due to the circumstances in the world. Interesting article indeed. And funny it turned up just now. I brought one Peterson Cara 05 not long ago. I was quite satisfied with the purchase. I got some fine background story from you Mark, about Mario Lubinski and the Italian line and collaboration. All said and done, l gently (very gently) started to break in the pipe. Just the other day l noticed some strange cracks (that fine finish in the pipe didn’t feel right). I have never… Read more »

Marlowe
Marlowe
4 years ago

Another pipe site to look at…oh my! I have always wanted a natural of some sort but haven’t yet been able to bring myself to pull the trigger, (or click the button). Perhaps once the honeybee sales begin again in June I may squirrel aside some for that purpose. Mark, I hope that what ever is causing you stress will pass soon. Know that your posts are relieving stress to the many followers of PPN worldwide – you are I think, more than ever providing a service to us, distracting us and lifting spirits above the daily barrage of Covid… Read more »

Steven Hersey
Steven Hersey
4 years ago

More fine pipes to drool over…I love the ‘naturals’, beautiful quality in colour and shape. These examples seem to have a more individual and, dare I say it, artistic bent to them, with some unique properties to each. I have had a look at a couple of the sites mentioned. The current problems involving not only health but also all the restrictions with infrastructures such as postal delivery may mean difficulties with ordering. We will see. I very much appreciate the diversity of the articles you produce and present, each of them creating quality information and imagery. Thank you. I… Read more »

Dan Hester
Dan Hester
4 years ago
Reply to  Steven Hersey

I’m with you on Pete’s “natural” stain. Just gorgeous!

Steven Hersey
Steven Hersey
4 years ago

PS…I noticed the match box with its “smooking pipes”…interesting – deliberate or a mistake?

Dan Hester
Dan Hester
4 years ago

I’ve had nothing but good luck ordering pipes from Europe! Two of the three Petersons I’ve bought in the last couple months have been from overseas. I had a Deluxe System 20s from Harrison & Simonds that arrived just yesterday. In addition to the unique finds there is also some great values to be had. That said I haven’t ordered a Pete from Italy specifically though I suspect that may change soon!

Jorgen Jensen
Jorgen Jensen
4 years ago
Reply to  Dan Hester

The last few years I have got most of my Petersons from Harrison & Simmonds, but i think that will end at 1. Jan. 2021 when the UK are out of the EU. Then there will be tax, vat, fees etc. I never look south our border
for pipes as there are to many of these awful 9 mm.

Stefano Zerbi
Stefano Zerbi
4 years ago

Hello Mark, I have bought the Sterling Army from Novelli. It is a 230 from 1996 (K hallmark). Lovely pipe for my collection and rotation. Natural finish with plenty of birds eyes. Thank you for sharing.