Every second Tuesday of the month we meet, smoke our pipes and share either our tobacco - often newly discovered beauties for the nose and palate - or share the aesthetics of a pipe we love or have just acquired, while some might bring pipes, tobacco and accessories to sell as well. One of the members in our New York Pipe Club walked and stood around for over an hour last night, chatting and also showing one or two vintage tins with precious very aged Virginia tobacco in them. At some point he came over to our table with a box which, in the subdued light customary to Soho Cigar Bar, appeared to be leather. We were so involved with the opening of it that I forgot to check if it was indeed leather. Not so relevant, however, for the real jewel was - as it would be expected - inside of the box. The inner side of the lid had the inscription GBD Spéciale. I like the classical shapes and the history of GBD and have a few samples myself. But the jewel status was revealed, as he said 1909.
The well-preserved box displayed inside cavities for four pipes in a bed of velvet. Three pipes are part of the original quartet, while the fourth one dates only back to 1939.
It is a beautiful experience witnessing history physically.
