Comoy’s Royal Beauty
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I'd say pre-war based on the COM mark, and the finish.
"The Royal has always been a high-grade Comoy, and, pre-WW II, it was the highest standard grade after the Prima was dropped. Priced at $7.50 in 1936"
For more,
https://pipedia.org/wiki/A_History_Of_Comoy%27s_and_A_Guide_Toward_Dating_the_Pipes
"The Royal has always been a high-grade Comoy, and, pre-WW II, it was the highest standard grade after the Prima was dropped. Priced at $7.50 in 1936"
For more,
https://pipedia.org/wiki/A_History_Of_Comoy%27s_and_A_Guide_Toward_Dating_the_Pipes
Very nice pipe! Your example is from as early as 1936, when the line was introduced, to probably no later than 1939-1940. It is possibly that it was made as late as the end of the war, but 'common' knowledge states that very little production occurred during the war years and it is not known exactly when the MADE IN LONDON ENGLAND stamping started exactly. The COMOYS (look close, it is without an apostrophe) is also consistent with this era, postwar era examples were stamped in the singular ROYAL COMOY. I have not yet encountered a ROYAL COMOYS with the MADE IN LONDON ENGLAND COM stamp.
According to Jon Guss, when introduced the line commanded an almost 50% premium over the next highest grade. These pipes were usually straight grain, or very close to it.
The BLUE RIBAND displaced the ROYAL grade fairly quickly, and it is not known if production continued immediately during or after the war. When it did reappear, it carried the singular COMOY stamp and was downgraded, eventually heavily, until it was an entry level pipe by the 1960s. Postwar pipes have no particular collector value.
I cannot wait to see your new acquisition cleaned and polished, it is a real cracker.
I have several at this point in time, they are some of my favorite pipes.
Doc
According to Jon Guss, when introduced the line commanded an almost 50% premium over the next highest grade. These pipes were usually straight grain, or very close to it.
The BLUE RIBAND displaced the ROYAL grade fairly quickly, and it is not known if production continued immediately during or after the war. When it did reappear, it carried the singular COMOY stamp and was downgraded, eventually heavily, until it was an entry level pipe by the 1960s. Postwar pipes have no particular collector value.
I cannot wait to see your new acquisition cleaned and polished, it is a real cracker.
I have several at this point in time, they are some of my favorite pipes.
Doc
Note that there appears to be an error in the pipedia webpage. The 1936 prices match a poorly digitized ad contained on the pipephil website that is dated 1936, but is actually a 1956 ad.
The Royal Comoys retailed for $12.50 in 1937 as per an ad in the New York Times. That was about half the average monthly house rent at that time.
Doc
The Royal Comoys retailed for $12.50 in 1937 as per an ad in the New York Times. That was about half the average monthly house rent at that time.
Doc
And, just to show the imperfection of knowledge, a ROYAL COMOYS with a MADE IN LONDON ENGLAND COM just appeared on ebay!
Doc
Doc
That 215 is postwar, if it had great grain it would have been a BR or better. The OP's pipe was made during the acme of ROYAL production and is a very nice pipe.
Prewar ROYALs were an excellent bargain until a couple of years ago, with prices depressed by the lower grade postwar pipes. Not so much anymore...
Doc
Prewar ROYALs were an excellent bargain until a couple of years ago, with prices depressed by the lower grade postwar pipes. Not so much anymore...
Doc
In some cases yes, but you put one up on ebay through a reputable seller and prices start to merge between the early Royal's and the Blue Ribands. I have seen good examples go north of $250.
Doc
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