Dunhill Christmas Pipe/en

Written by Andrea Gravano
Contributed and translated by Yang Forcióri
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It was in 1980 that the first commemorative Dunhill Christmas pipe appeared. Throughout the '80s, own them were a point of honor for collectors. They were available in a few hundred pieces and the supply did not meet the demand: few distributors could have one available to their customers. Since 1982 the pipes have been accompanied by a leather box in the shape of a book. Until 1992 each pipe was exclusively dedicated to Christmas of the year. From 1993 edition, the pipes were further included in a 12-year series, dedicated to fairy tales of the English tradition and accompanied by a silver tamper (that echoes the theme of the fairy tale), as well as by the certificate and leather box. 
Since 1993 the Christmas pipe has become less exclusive, not only because of the increases of production but also because the pipe was no longer unique and becomes was tied to a series. This increase in production and availability gave access for more users and made possible the emergence of new collectors from 1993: for some of them, one of these pipes has become the Christmas gift for excellence. 
It's hard to find a full Dunhill Christmas collection, mostly because of the rarest and most coveted: the 1981 Dunhill Christmas Pipe, the second in the series. Due to an error on printing the price list, several pipes (something between 75/96 - there is no certainty), were sold at the price of 425 euros - which did not include the cost of the wooden box. It was expected at 650 euros. Instead of correcting the error, the company decided to remove the unsold pipes from the market. Today, the 1981 Dunhill Christmas Pipe is one of the rarest and is, for many collectors, the missing piece to complete the full Christmas series.
To the delight of the eyes, follows the photos of the Dunhill Christmas pipes from 1980 (The 1980 edition has three different mouthpieces) to 1992, the rarest and most fascinating.
(Photos by Smokingpipes, Esterval's pipe house, L. J. Peretti and Finelighters). 
Dcp1980.jpg|1980
Dcp1981.jpg|1981
Dcp1982.jpg|1982
Dcp1983.jpg|1983
Dcp1984.jpg|1984
Dcp1985.jpg|1985
Dcp1986.jpg|1986
Dcp1987.jpg|1987
Dcp1988.jpg|1988
Dcp1989.jpg|1989
Dcp1990.jpg|1990
Dcp1991.jpg|1991
Dcp1992.jpg|1992
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From 1993 to 2004 the Dunhill Christmas pipes constitute a unique series, named following the English tradition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas. Each year's edition features a line of the nursery rhyme. The pipes are accompanied by a box in the shape of a book, a certificate, and a silver-themed tamper - 500 pieces per year.
Dcp1993.jpg|1993 - A partridge in a Pear Tree
Dcp1994_.jpg|1994 - Two Turtles Doves
Dcp1995.jpg|1995 - Three French Hens
Dcp1996.jpg|1996 - Four Calling Birds
Dcp1997.jpg|1997 - Five Gold Rings
Dcp1998.jpg|1998 - Six Geese a-laying
Dcp1999.jpg|1999 - Seven Swans a-swimming
Dcp2000.jpg|2000 - Eight Maids a-milking
2001_Nine_Drummers_Drumming.jpg|2001 - Nine Drummers Drumming
2002_ten_pipers_piping.jpg|2002 - Ten Pipers Piping
2003_Eleven_Ladies_Dancing.jpg|2003 - Eleven Ladies Dancing
2004.jpg|2004 - Twelve Lords a-leaping
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In 2005 the Christmas pipe was dedicated to Wilson A. Bentley, the first man who photographed a snowflake showing its structure. The pipe is accompanied by a white book box, with a print run of 400 specimens.
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From 2006 to 2010, the Christmas pipes are part of a series called "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, loosely based on Dickens's Christmas Carol. Each edition has a print run of 300 pieces in a red book box covered in green, accompanied by a silver tamper.
Dcp2006.jpg|2006 Scrooge and Jacob Marley's Ghost
Dcp2007.jpg|2007 Scrooge
Dcp2008.jpg|2008 The Ghost of the Christmas Past
Dcp2009.jpg|2009 The Ghost of the Christmas Present
Dcp2010.jpg|2010 The Ghost of the Christmas Future
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In 2011, it began a new series that will be produced for the next 12 years, named the "After the Work The Nutcracker by E.T. A. Hoffmann: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Characterized by a blue book box with a tamper larger than previous editions, made with 50 grams of 925 silver. In fact, following the change in the brand name, it would be correct to call these pipes of "The White Spot Christmas Pipes".
Dcp2011.jpg|2011 The nutcracker
Dcp2012.jpg|2012 Stahlbaum's house
Dcp2013.jpg|2013 Maria
Dcp2014.jpeg|2014 Fritz
Dcp2015.jpg|2015 The grandfather's clock
Dcp2016.jpg|2016 Godfather Drosselmayer
Dcp2017.jpg|2017 The Sheperds dancers
Dcp2018.jpg|2018 Seven-Headed Mouse King
Dcp2019.jpg|2019 The Battle Between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King.
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Adapted from the original publication (in Italian), on La Compagnia del Tobacco forum by Andrea Gravano here.
Yang (talk) 05:31, 14 January 2020 (CST)
Category:Dunhill