As I’ve mentioned previously, I’ve managed to get hold of a copy of ‘A Pinch Of Snuff’, which is sometimes available via sources I’ve listed in the Snuff Books section of the site.

A Pinch Of Snuff gives details of signs and figures used by tobacconists in the 1840’s to advertise their wares.

It describes The Highlander figure, and then goes on to describe the below image which was used by a tobacconist in Bridgewater. This was also used on wrapping paper with the description as below.

The sign in my opinion is one of the best snuff shop signs that I’ve seen.

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Just found a couple of Zuka Snuff videos posted on YouTube.

The first is a short presentation on the history and idea behind Zuka snuff and shows the launch of Zuka at a German beer festival.

It has interviews with various people who’ve tried Zuka snuff and also interviews a couple of newspaper reporters who like the idea of Zuka snuff.

The second is a short video on how to use Zuka Snuff. Set to funky music, the video goes through the ‘how to use’ process for Zuka snuff bullets.

Snuff Store stocks both Zuka Black and Zuka Zee snuff varieties, in bullet form.

Zuka Snuff Video

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A Pinch Of Snuff By Dean Snift of Brazen-Nose, published in 1840.

I’ve been on the lookout for ‘A Pinch Of Snuff’, (no, not the nasal snuff variety, but this time in book format!) for several months now. If you want to see a list of snuff related books, please check the Snuff Books section.

A Pinch Of Snuff is according to the inside cover, ‘Composed of Curious particulars and original anecdotes of snuff taking; as well as a review of snuff, snuff boxes, snuff shops, snuff takers and snuff papers; with the moral and physical effects of snuff.’

A Pinch Of Snuff was published in 1840 and sometimes can be found in the ebay snuff category or by searching through the amazon snuff books list.

I had been ‘pipped to the post’ on this particular snuff book on ebay snuff auctions several times, so set my maximum spend limit at £35.00.

I eventually ‘won’ (the word ‘won’ always makes me smile when using ebay - it’s almost like they want you to forget that you’ve paid hard earned cash for a item - ’whoo-hoo… I won… I WON!’) A Pinch Of Snuff at £31.34 plus £1.99 postage and packing, making a grand total of all the ‘threes’… To see the seller’s description whilst it’s still live click here.

My copy of A Pinch Of Snuff is a bit battered and dog eared - as you would expect for a book published in the 1840’s; it’s missing the fabric cover on the front and back, a few pages are stained, it has hand written notes in pencil and pen on a few pages and some of these have been rubbed out… I love it!

Inside cover of my copy of A Pinch Of Snuff.

The opening introduction is ‘To The Refined And Social Snuff Taker’; through the introduction, the author welcomes me to the world of snuff taking and makes me feel like I’m a member of an exclusive snuff taker’s club.

A Pinch Of Snuff has 152 pages of written word and few extra ‘blanks’ either side at the begining and end. The book has numerous illustrations and is divided up into the following sections and chapters;

Introduction
The Refined And Social Snuff-Taker.

A Pinch Of Snuff
Man A Snuffing Animal, Lady Snuffers, Introduction Of Tobacco (Nicot, Raleigh, Drake), The Pouncet Box, Sneezing Powder, Louis XIV, Papal Persecution Of Snuff, Restoration, Anne To George Era.

The Influence Of Snuff
Remedy For Headache And Weak Sight, Perfumed Snuff Injurious, Sneezing, Sociability, Sterne, Swift, Poetic Inspirations, Song.

Varieties Of Snuff
Rappee, Carotte, Montagne, Etrenne, Bureau, Bolangaro, Martinique, Princeza, Welsh, LuddyFoot’s Irish Blackguard, Lambkin’s Cork, Paris, Facon De Paris, Scotch, Masulipatam, Cephalic, Grimstone’s Eye Snuff, Lord Rochester, Natchitoches, Mathews, Hardham’s 37, Violet Strasburg, Queen Charlotte, Gillespie, Prince’s Mixture, Macouba, Latakia, Anstruther And Norcot Mixtures, Varieties, Snuff Monopoly In France, Process Of Snuff Making, Dutch And English Tobacco Merchants, Jesuits’ Snuff, Misstatements Corrected, A Snuff Song.

Snuff Shops, Signs And Papers
Fribourg And Treyer, Fribourg And Pontet, Pontet Junior, Watton, Harrison, The Skinners, Kilpack, Procter, Currey, Taylor, Beynon And Stocken, Hudson, Arnet, Pain, Edwards, Highlanders, Black Boys, Female Figure, Quaint Device, Snuff Paper, Charades.

Snuff Boxes
Inappropriate Receptacles, French Taste, Chinese Fox Hunt, Laurence Kirk, James Sandy, Cumnoc, Curious Boxes, Sarcophagus, Robert Burns, William Pitt, Duke Of Gloucester, Napoleon And Louis XVIII, Gold Wicker, Diamonds, Hogarth, Mulberry Tree, Platoff, Moorish Box, Nelson’s Coffin, Emperor Of Austria, Ninety-Second Mull, Song.

Snuff Taking
Snuff A Tell-Tale, Duchesse De Berri, Nose Hunger, Stolen Pinch, Pledging In Snuff, Sneezing, Catullus, Cowley, An-Upset, Robbery, Madness, Execution, How To Smooth Snuff, Stage Snuff, Test Of Love, A Taker’s Courtesy, Ma Tabatiera, Longevity, A Black Pinch, Surrender To Snuff, Pupil’s Bribery, A Disinfector, Bloomfield, Late Sittings, Deliberate Aim, Extract, Airing Snuff, Attitiudes, Noses “Bottle, Grecian, Snub or Roman”, The Handkerchief, Patterns, A Slip Of The Tongue.

Snuff Takers
George IV, King Of Hanover, Dukes Of Cambridge and Sussex, Princess Hesse Homburg, Dukes Of Devonshire And Buccleuch, Marquis Of Ely, Lords Alvanley, Airlie, Arbuthnot, Panmure and Abercrombie, Louis XVIII, Duke Of Orleans, Frederick The Great, Mr’s Siddons, John Kemble, Brummel, Sir Henry Cooke, Theatrical Touchstone, Dramatic Sensor, Steevens The Commentator, Count Boralowski, Donald Macpherson, Earl Of Harrington, Prince Talleyrand, Prince Metternich, Napoleon, Lady Holland, Acrostic.

The book finishes with a acrostic snuff poem titled My Pinch Of Snuff, which I will share at a later date.

Well that’s about it for my most recently purchased snuff book. I will add snippets from A Pinch Of Snuff occasionally to this news blog.

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To My Nose

Knows he that never took a pinch,
Nosey! the pleasure thence which flows?
Knows he the titillating joy
Which my nose knows?

Oh, nose! I am as fond of thee
As any mountain of its snows!
I gaze on thee, and feel that pride
A Roman knows!

Anonymous

To My Nose is printed in a book titled ’A Pinch Of Snuff’ By Dean Snift published in 1840 and sometimes can be found for sale online - see the Snuff Books section for details.

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Antique snuff box collecting is an easy and affordable hobby, because there is plenty of scope for starting an antique snuff box collection cheaply; as well as numerous places both on and offline line that can be used to source antique snuff boxes. There has never been a better time to start collecting snuff boxes.

Antique snuff boxes come in all shapes and sizes and are made from all manner of materials, including; gold, silver, copper, pewter, iron, tin, wood, bone, horn and papier-mâché. Many are inlaid with precious metal and stones; or intricately carved or engraved with beautiful patterns, that make antique snuff boxes a work of art in themselves.

Several snuff box types are very collectable and are therefore priced accordingly, but many fall within the few pounds per item bracket and can be found in car boot sales, flea markets, charity shops, as well as antique shops and of course online at dedicated web sites and auction sites such as the ebay antique snuff box section.

Historically, snuff boxes initially started as functional boxes just to keep a person’s snuff tobacco safe and dry. Most pocket snuff boxes are around 6cm long, 4cm wide and about 2cm deep. They are therefore big enough to hold around a day’s worth of snuff.

One thing holds common with snuff boxes however, that being because of their very practical build purpose; they must be snuff proof. They mustn’t leak snuff and they must keep the snuff in good condition.

It is also interesting to note, that most snuff boxes have their hinge on the outside of the box. Initially this may appear strange, but it’s not without good reason – powdered snuff is very fine and clogs hinges, therefore having the hinge on the outside ensures the lid always closes tightly and the box keeps the snuff in good condition!

Many intricate snuff boxes have been made over the last few hundred years, and as snuff was as the most common way of using tobacco in yester-year, there is an abundance of snuff boxes available to buy.

There are many books available on the internet covering antique snuff box collecting. For a selection, click snuff books.

It is widely recorded that Napoleon Bonaparte used up to 7lbs of snuff per month and received as gifts many elaborate snuff boxes.

One discovered assassination attempt on Napoleon’s life was the stuff of modern spy thrillers, it involved the plotters infiltrating a group of workmen restoring Malmaison and switching Napoleon’s favoured snuff box with one laced with poison. The plan was foiled.

As a snuff user, I like to collect snuff boxes both for everyday use and for display purposes - there’s nothing like actually using an antique snuff box for storing your snuff in, knowing that the same snuff box has been used for generations and that you’re continuing to use the snuff box for the purpose that it was originally created.

However, if you’re not a snuff user do not let it put you off antique snuff box collecting, snuff boxes can be used as trinket or pill boxes instead, if you like to collect antiques that have a modern day purpose, snuff boxes can be very practical indeed.

So don’t delay, explore the wonderful world of antique snuff box collecting today.

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Toque Snuff now available in 10g bags.

Snuff Store now stocks the following Toque Snuff blends in 10g bags.

Snus Ice Snuff - Refreshing peppermint snuff. Snus Ice is a best selling snuff in bullet form, we’re sure it’ll be welcomed by customers in the 10g bag version.

Toque Chocolate Snuff - Described as “…strong, dark, rich chocolate with a slight tickle/burn and just the subtlest hint of tobacco…”. Toque chocolate is a great chocolate snuff.

Toque Espresso Snuff - Described as “… rather strong with the smell of old fashioned Italian coffee shops and a hint of Cohiba cigars…”. Toque Espresso is a firm favourite of ours.

Toque Menthol Snuff - Described as “…super strong. It’s a real menthol freaks dream…”. Toque menthol is a fine ground snuff and another popular favourite.

Toque Tobacco (Original) Snuff - The original Toque Tobacco snuff and designed with the smoker in mind. It delivers a strong nicotine kick and has a smoky tobacco flavour. Toque Tobacco is a dryish fine snuff.

Launched in response to customer requests, the 10g bags of Toque snuff are perfect for refilling your snuff box.

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Snuff bullets are increasing in popularity.

We have added ‘The Posh’ Snuff Bullet range of snuff bullets to our snuff accessories section. The Posh offer two different versions of their bullet; one a metal snuff bullet, and one a plastic snuff bullet - the plastic version comes in a variety of colours.

The Posh Metal Snuff Bullet is a heavy weight quality product weighing around 65g, it is designed to give years of snuff use. It has been the snuff bullet of choice for over six years.

Such is the workmanship that can be found with The Posh range of snuff bullets, it’s design has needed to change little over this time, except for some small modifications and improvements.

The Posh have recently launched a plastic version of the original metal bullet. The Posh Plastic Snuff Bullets come in a variety of colours and offers the same quality as the original metal version, but made out of a lighter plastic material.

The Posh Plastic Snuff Bullets operate in exactly the same way as their metal counterparts.

Both versions of The Posh snuff bullet are easy to use, please see below image and instructions.

Simple to use, unscrew the screw holding the end cap in place with a screwdriver or small coin, take cap off, fill the ‘C’ shaped chamber with snuff - be careful not to get any down the screw hole, it may be easier to fill with a snuff spoon, screw cap back on again to keep your snuff safe and dry.

To use the Snuff Bullet, twist the bullet holding at the ’screw end’ with one hand and on the body of the snuff bullet with the other to ensure a measure amount of snuff is delivered.

Can be used to snuff straight from the bullet, or to tap out onto wrist. If snuffing from bullet, ensure the ‘air hole’ is lined up, take to the nostril and sniff.

Snuff bullets are now so commonly used, that some people see them as the ‘modern day’ snuff box, check out Snuff Store’s Snuff Bullets today.

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