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187. Was the Dublin & London Peterson’s “Supreme” Line?

I received a Dublin & London box a few weeks back containing some surprises that I thought you might enjoy reading about.

Peterson’s Dublin & London line, stamped “London & Dublin” when made in London, seems to have debuted around 1940. I base this on the fact that the English factory on White Lion Street opened in 1937 and K&P’s November, 1938 Punch ad makes no mention of it.

The first appearance, along with the other lines mentioned in Punch, is in the catalog brochure c. 1940.

1940 Peterson Catalog
(You can download a restoration of the complete catalog by right-clicking the link above)

While I was delighted just to add a D&L box to my collection, when I got to looking at it I noticed something curious on one side of the lid—it reads “PETERSON’S over SUPREME BRIAR.”

And this got me wondering: was the Dublin & London line Peterson’s supreme or absolute top-of-the-line? When you look at the grain on this D&L 120 dublin, it certainly looks as if it could be:

The Supreme line was introduced for Rogers Imports, Ltd. in their 1953 catalog. It went for an astounding $15 when the Shamrock went for $3.50. That’s a little over four times as much, or in today’s Pete dollars about the distance between an Arklow and a Silver Cap Natural.

The D&L box wasn’t made for the US market—it lacks the distinctive Rogers Imports Ltd design work and is fancier than any Rogers box I’ve encountered. Whether this was because Rogers didn’t import the D&L or didn’t import it in sufficient numbers is anybody’s guess.

And then there’s the wool-lined satin pipe sock. The color complements the box, and as the box also contains a pristine guarantee and Chat brochure, it seems fairly certain that this was the sock that originally came in the box. It reads “Peterson’s over SUPREME”:

Gary Malmberg, my co-author on the Peterson book, has probably seen (and sold) more Dublin & Londons than anyone.  I asked him if he thought the quality of briar on the D&Ls and the Rogers Supremes were equivalent, so that one could suppose the D&L was marketed outside the US and the Rogers Supreme inside the US, being the same grade but with different line names. He said he thought that was a reasonable assumption.

The quality of some of the more recent Supremes I’ve seen is beyond any of the old D&Ls either Gary or I have ever seen, and unlike the D&Ls are often banded in sterling or gold. That being said, the D&Ls in their turn are beyond the Peterson English-made Naturals I’ve seen, the latter being flawless bowls but typically without grain as dramatic as this 120:

I think the guarantee slips in the old Pete boxes are also beautiful, and as the one in this box is pristine, thought you might enjoy seeing it:

A final surprise came with the “Chat” brochure. It’s very close to the Rogers Imports version from the 1950s, which makes me believe it was printed at a similar time, c. 1945-1955, but for the non-US market. Like the Rogers brochure, it lacks the more usual “Over [blank] years of experience…” story underneath the “Guarantee,” :

Whether or not the Dublin & London was in fact Peterson’s highest line doesn’t matter, of course, to anyone but a fellow Pete fan. But it’s an interesting speculation and may make you pause the next time one appears on the estate market to take a closer look.

 

Early Republic Dublin & London 120
courtesy Jorgen Jensen

N E W S

The Peterson Pipes: The Story of Kapp & Peterson recently won a Gold Medal from the Independent Publisher’s Association in the Best First Book–Non-Fiction category. I think it’s because of our designer’s amazing layout work, but it could also have to do with the erudition of co-author Gary Malmberg or the insistence of editor Gary Schrier that I learn the difference between an em dash and an en dash. Kudos are also due to everyone who so enthusiastically supported both the book and the blog. The book is officially sold out at the publisher’s, but copies are still available at Smokingpipes.com.

I’ve been working with Gary Schrier at Briar Books Press for a few months now on a digital restoration of Kapp & Peterson’s extremely rare first catalog from 1896, and am happy to announce that it will be launched at this year’s special two-day CORPS pipe show in Richmond:

Smokingpipes.com asked if I’d do a presentation on the reprint and others things Peterson on Friday the 2nd at 1:30pm, and of course I was delighted—old teachers don’t need much prompting to get up and talk about their passions!  While the restoration is complete, the design work hasn’t begun yet on the catalog, but I thought you’d like to see one of the images of one of my favorite Systems, the 13, apparently only made from 1896-1905 or so:

To its right (upside down) is Mark Twain’s beloved 14, which Peterson used in their 1981 commemorative homage.

 

FOR SALE

I have the following Petes for sale which all appeared in the Peterson book. Estate pipes have been restored and cleaned and are ready for smoking.  If you’re interested, make a comment and I’ll contact you to provide photos. Prices include shipping both domestic and international.

2002 Great Explorers Collection (4 pipes in original case, unsmoked)
Featured in the Peterson book and in an earlier blog post ($1300)

2YK (2000) Pipes of the Year: Silver Cap Straight Brandy and Bent Spigot
Featured in the Peterson book and on the blog ($400 for set)

999 Shamrock John Bull, Early Republic (c. 1950s)
Featured in Peterson book and in earlier blog post ($200)

 

Sometimes people ask me why I’m selling a pipe, which is a good question. I’m not one to collect for the sake of collecting, although I don’t knock that hobby like I used to after the years spent acquiring Petes for the book. Mostly I buy a pipe to smoke it, but I also quite often buy a pipe for research and use on the blog or the Peterson book. If I find I’m not smoking a pipe much, I also let it go, which usually happens after I obsess about a particular shape and find I’ve accumulated more examples of it than I can possibly smoke on a regular basis.

 

 

 

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Brian Riley
Brian Riley
4 years ago

Mark, I am interested in the 107 with briar inlay stem as well as the 109 diamond shank billiard. Brian

Brian Herzog
Brian Herzog
4 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

Trying to reach you can’t find the message you sent me hopefully you will get back in touch with me.

Brian Herzog
Brian Herzog
4 years ago

I am interested in 2000 poy, 107, and the 109. Love the blog would love it if sometime you could do a write up on the old Peterson calabash gourds. I find it hard to find anything about them. Thanks

Jorgen Jensen
Jorgen Jensen
4 years ago

Good morning, ha ha ! And luck to Brian with the 107, a good shape.

Martin
Martin
4 years ago

Congratulations on this gold medal. And for the CORPS show beer food & friendship.

Andy Camire
Andy Camire
4 years ago

Some wonderful pipes you have on the block there Mark. I’m sure they will all find good homes and quickly. One thing I remember and never forgot was the late Alan Rosenfield telling me that Tony Dempsey related to him was the fact that the D&L line of pipes as they called them had the best bowls, with no voids for the money. I believe that you pointed this out in today’s blog. Back in the mid 90’s I believe they were right around the $100 dollar price point for flawless, beautiful bowls. I can attest that they are great… Read more »

Al Jones
Al Jones
4 years ago

Fascinating premise – its wonderful what the packaging reveals, if one can stitch together the details, great job! I have Dublin & London pipe – a fantastic Rhodesian that has a “Made in Ireland” COM but no shape number. This one is only marred by a fishtale stem. Curiously, this one has no shape number – any idea why? See the pipe in the link below: https://postimg.cc/xXmxHPc1 This pipe was purchased from the late “Mr. Can”. I saved my Ebay sales ad (like always). Mr. Can (Tony Soderman) was known for his detailed pipe descriptions and dating details. In my… Read more »

Dan C
Dan C
4 years ago

Hi Mark just leaving a comment per our conversation regarding the Supreme 107.
Dan

John Schantz
John Schantz
4 years ago

I wish they would bring back those 13 & 14 shapes, cut exactly as in days of yore. The Mark Twain commemoratives just don’t cut it.

My vintage Dublin & London #268 does have flawless briar, and very nice grain.

Hank
Hank
4 years ago

Hi Mark,
This is Hank Saatchi, regarding pre-rep bent bulldog
My email keywisdom@aol.com
Thanks

Earl McGee
Earl McGee
4 years ago

My sole 70’s era Dublin and London, a John Bull, while a favorite of mine, has surprisingly little grain to it. No flaws, on the other hand.

SRC
SRC
3 years ago

So a few NOS Dublin& London Petersons can be found for a very fair price at the link below. They appear to be quality grained pipes, and the P stamp on the stem looks as if its from before the 90’s if not earlier. They are certainly no the recent re-issue. looks to be: 2x 606s, a 338, a 120, a 106s, & a 87. All feature the P-lip with crisp lines. I thought it best to post the link here to this article, that any interested would be happy to find new unsmoked old petes. (and at a bargain… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by SRC
Donald
Donald
1 year ago

I purchased one on the estate market and I can say it has some beautiful grain. It’s an 80s D&L. I wondered why it had no other markings. It is also a Republic era pipe. It came from Spain to the US so I can support the presumption that this line was not being sold here. I enjoy the history and articles.