Tolkien's Pipes and Tobaccos
Sproles
I was exploring Tolkien web sites looking for hints as to the pipes used by
JRRT and types of tobacco he used when frustration set in. There is not
much out there on this. I emailed the keeper of the FAQ of
rec.arts.books.tolkien and received this very classy reply from a Harvard
dude (ok most problably an esteemed professor of literature). There is hope
of "more to come..."
JudyAnne
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-----Original Message-----
From: LO...@HUDCE.HARVARD.EDU <LO...@HUDCE.HARVARD.EDU>
To: Shu...@worldnet.att.net <Shu...@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Thursday, March 09, 2000 5:28 PM
Subject: RE: Question about Tolkien's pipes
>>Many on alt.smokers.pipes have asked about the brands and/or
>>blends of tobacco that the professor prefered to smoke. Could
>>you help define this for us or point me to a good reference?
>You know, I really haven't the slightest idea. The cutesy answer
>would be Longbottom Leaf, Southern Star, and Old Toby. (Those are
>the brands mentioned in the Prologue of LotR as being among the
>best pipeweed grown in the Shire).
>
>A quick look in the index of Humphrey Carpenter's Biography yields
>no specific references. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean
>there's nothing relevant there, but short of reading the book
>through there's no quick way to find out.
>
>The only specific mention of real-world tobacco that I recall
>offhand doesn't really answer your question. In the late 1950's
>Tolkien attended an early fan-gathering in Holland, which he talks
>about in one of the Letters. Part of the celebration was based on
>the Hobbits' use of "pipeweed".
>
>It turns out that this is Letter 206 (8 Apr 1958). The gathering was
>in Rotterdam and was sponsered by the publisher of the Dutch version
>of LotR. Tobacco was in fact supplied but Tolkien only gives us the
>name of the firm (Van Rossem), which doesn't tell us where the product
>actually came from. Unfortunately (for you), the posters that were
>specially designed for the occasion used the names of the Shire
>brands that I mentioned above. Here is the paragraph:
>
> In this home of 'smoking', *pipe-weed* seems specially to have
> caught on. There were clay pipes on the table and large jars
> of tobacco -- provided, I believe, by the firm of Van Rossem.
> The walls were decorated with Van Rossem posters over-printed
> Pipe-weed for Hobbits: In 3 qualities: *Longbottom Leaf*, *Old
> Toby*, and *Southern Star*. V. Rossem has since sent me pipes
> and tobacco! I carried off one of the posters.
> (Letters, no. 206)
>
>This is pretty much all I have for you, unless you're interested in
>why Tolkien insisted on calling it "pipe-weed" at all, as opposed to
>tobacco. (His motivations were linguistic in nature.)
>
>What I'll do is pass your question along to the Tolkien mailing list.
>There are many knowledgable people there, including some who are
>members of the Tolkien Society in Oxford. Someone there may well
>know more about this than I do.
>
>
>Yours,
>
>William D.B. Loos
>lo...@hudce.harvard.edu
Magnulus
like all the other famous pipesmokers. I do remember in a Pipe Digest article
that it's rumored his study was filled with the smell of strong tobacco
(perhaps something similar to Condor or St. Bruno), and he took snuff.
---------------------------
"But Lisa, that's why we have politicians, so we don't have to think."
- Homer Simpson.
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Colonel Panic
(Magnulus) said to Mr. Spock:
> No doubt it will turn out to be something inexpensive and "unrefined", just
>like all the other famous pipesmokers. I do remember in a Pipe Digest article
>that it's rumored his study was filled with the smell of strong tobacco
>(perhaps something similar to Condor or St. Bruno), and he took snuff.
Those are both from references made in "Tolkien: An Authorized
Biography" by Humphrey Carpenter. A must-read for Tolkien fans who
want to understand this fascinating Oxford Don!
So, who here is going to see Peter Jackson's movie of LOTR when it
comes out in almost two years?
Reg'ds,
Terry
--
When the wrong antidote is like a bone in the throat
Charles Perry
because of the necessary plot changes to make it all fit in a short time
frame. I understand the Gollum computer generated graphics are spectacular.
Charles Perry P.E.
eepe on #pipes
Colonel Panic wrote in message ...
<snip>
rpiatt
biography? If so, where can I order some of this ... I've always wanted
to smoke a bowl full with Gandalf.
I have a side thought ... has anyone considered contacting Christopher
Tolkien (JRR's son) to see if he knows the type of tobacco used?
And, is there a web site pointing to the new LOTR movies?
Rick.
Colonel Panic wrote:
> On Stardate 10 Mar 2000 08:00:29 GMT, magn...@aol.comnospam
> (Magnulus) said to Mr. Spock:
>
> > No doubt it will turn out to be something inexpensive and
> "unrefined", just
> >like all the other famous pipesmokers. I do remember in a Pipe
> Digest article
> >that it's rumored his study was filled with the smell of strong
> tobacco
> >(perhaps something similar to Condor or St. Bruno), and he took
> snuff.
>
> Those are both from references made in "Tolkien: An Authorized
> Biography" by Humphrey Carpenter. A must-read for Tolkien fans who
> want to understand this fascinating Oxford Don!
>
Charles Perry
Greg Sprinkle
Shu...@worldnet.att.net says...
> >
> >It turns out that this is Letter 206 (8 Apr 1958). The gathering was
> >in Rotterdam and was sponsered by the publisher of the Dutch version
> >of LotR. Tobacco was in fact supplied but Tolkien only gives us the
> >name of the firm (Van Rossem), which doesn't tell us where the product
> >actually came from. Unfortunately (for you), the posters that were
> >specially designed for the occasion used the names of the Shire
> >brands that I mentioned above. Here is the paragraph:
> >
No doubt that these tobaccos referenced are Troost; in one or all of it's
forms. Van Rossem at that time owned and operated the Royal Tobacco Works
in Rotterdam Holland, but have since closed operations and licensed the
manufacturing to Murray & Sons [same folks that make Dunhill's stuff].
Several of the blends are still available in the US and are distributed
by Lane Ltd.
--
email... yahoo between at and com
web..... http://www.erols.com/gsprink
Colonel Panic
said to Mr. Spock:
>Let me understand ... Condor and St. Bruno ARE mentioned in the
>biography? If so, where can I order some of this ... I've always wanted
>to smoke a bowl full with Gandalf.
No, it doesn't mention any actual tobaccos in the biography. It just
mentions that his study smells strongly of tobacco - not surprising
for a man who saw each day as an excuse for "another twenty-four
hours' pipe smoking"! I think Dan was right in saying that Professor
T. probably smoked a number of tobaccos rather than any one brand
exclusively. Since his main writing years were also financially lean
I would imagine that whatever was a common drugstore tobacco in the
30's through the 50's in Great Britian would have found its way into
his pipes.
>I have a side thought ... has anyone considered contacting Christopher
>Tolkien (JRR's son) to see if he knows the type of tobacco used?
I tried that. One of my favorite college Professors* is a personal
friend of Christopher and a member of most of the Tolkien Literary
societies, but she had no luck finding out anything specific. I'd say
Condor, Erinmore and Saint Bruno would be sure-fire choices if you
want to smoke something that Tolkien smoked.
>And, is there a web site pointing to the new LOTR movies?
Try http://www.theonering.net/index.shtml which is my Netscape home
page :) You can also read rec.arts.books.tolkien and alt.fan.tolkien,
but both have a tendency toward OT posts and flames. Still, there is
a goodly amount of information there if you're willing to sift.
Reg'ds,
Terry
*She actually taught a 300 level Lit course called 'JRR Tolkien and
the Literature of Wonder' that was amazingly fun and educational!
Daniel Paden
Colonel Panic wrote:
> So, who here is going to see Peter Jackson's movie of LOTR when it
> comes out in almost two years?
You kidding? My son and I will be living at the theater for a week.
AllanKirkwood
other "drugstore" tobacco. Oxford is/was home to some very impressive
tobacconists with vast ranges of tobaccos many of which cost no more than
common retail ones such as Condor.
I think someone like Tolkein would have been very interested in what he
smoked and would have experimented with a variety of tobaccos. The tobaccos
in his books are referred to as weed or leaf and never as flake.
A particular favourite strong tobacco in the Oxford area was Bondsman. I
think it just as likely he smoked this as anything else.
Allan
Colonel Panic wrote in message ...
Michael Horstmann
some fairly strong Latakia mixture, that just seems appropriate, imo. Maybe
someone is able to detect his tobacconist in Oxford?
Michael Horstmann
AllanKirkwood schrieb:
Adriaan Roeleveld
Sprinkle) wrote:
>> >It turns out that this is Letter 206 (8 Apr 1958). The gathering was
>> >in Rotterdam and was sponsered by the publisher of the Dutch version
>> >of LotR. Tobacco was in fact supplied but Tolkien only gives us the
>> >name of the firm (Van Rossem), which doesn't tell us where the product
>> >actually came from. Unfortunately (for you), the posters that were
>> >specially designed for the occasion used the names of the Shire
>> >brands that I mentioned above. Here is the paragraph:
>
>No doubt that these tobaccos referenced are Troost; in one or all of it's
>forms. Van Rossem at that time owned and operated the Royal Tobacco Works
>in Rotterdam Holland, but have since closed operations and licensed the
>manufacturing to Murray & Sons [same folks that make Dunhill's stuff].
The Van Rossum Troost tobacco line is now marketed by Niemeyer
(Netherlands) that is AFAIK owned by or afiliated with Rothmans (so:
Murray, Dunhill, Edgeworth, Sail, Captain Black, etc.)
Troost was / is available as:
Troost Special; a regular cavendish, slightly aromatic
Troost Aromatic; based on the Special, but more aromatic
Troost Baai; shag like aromatic
Troost Black Cavendish; very aromatic
Troost Slices; an aromatic flake
The first two were top selling tobacco's in that time, so most likely
to be sent to and smoked by JRRT.
I would say they are still available in The Netherlands (in 50g pouch
or 100g tins). Have no idea about the availability abroad.
Adriaan Roeleveld
Magnulus
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