So, yesterday I posted about my Cavalier Meerschaum pipe, and how I was smoking it for the first time, after it sat on my pipe shelf for the last 7-8 years. Today, I decided it was time to smoke this pipe; my Thompson African Meerschaum straight billiard. I purchased this pipe as new-old stock, as African Meerschaum pipes have not been made in a very long time.
Not only is this a great looking pipe, with some minor rustication on the bottom of the bowl and around the rim, it was also made by the Manx Meerschaum Company at the Laxey Pipes factory (also referred to as the Manx Meerschaum factory) on the Isle of Man. The significance of this is that my 4x Great Uncle was the famous author, Sir Hall Caine, who at one time lived on the Isle of Man at the famous Greeba Castle. He was the author of the novel, "The Manxman" along with other many other novels. His novel, "The Eternal City" is known for being the first novel ever to sell over a million copies world-wide.
I've had this pipe sitting on my pipe shelf for the last 8 years now as I didn't want to smoke it being it was unsmoked, and made in the land of my great ancestor. Well, it's a new year and like the Cavalier pipe, I said screw it, I'm smoking it. So here goes...
Not only is this a great looking pipe, with some minor rustication on the bottom of the bowl and around the rim, it was also made by the Manx Meerschaum Company at the Laxey Pipes factory (also referred to as the Manx Meerschaum factory) on the Isle of Man. The significance of this is that my 4x Great Uncle was the famous author, Sir Hall Caine, who at one time lived on the Isle of Man at the famous Greeba Castle. He was the author of the novel, "The Manxman" along with other many other novels. His novel, "The Eternal City" is known for being the first novel ever to sell over a million copies world-wide.
I've had this pipe sitting on my pipe shelf for the last 8 years now as I didn't want to smoke it being it was unsmoked, and made in the land of my great ancestor. Well, it's a new year and like the Cavalier pipe, I said screw it, I'm smoking it. So here goes...
