While looking through Google Books I came across a very amusing little book that I don’t think has been mentioned here. The title / blurb says: “Snuff and Snuff-takers; a pungent, piquant, comical, veritable and historical disquisition, to which is added a dissertation on the poetry of sneezing. By author of “Smoking and Smokers” [i.e. George T. Fisher]” You can find it at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Xr1YAAAAcAAJ&num=10
It has been my experience that when extremely short book reviews use works such as disquisition and dissertation, it is most likely either an extremely dull or haughty book.
I also saw it already some years ago and read it. It’s very funny reading for every snuff taker!
I think this seems like an amusing read and ought to be in print!
It’s quite an interesting read and further demonstrates the historic roots of many of today’s blends, but I found the writer’s hatred toward scents and “fancy snuffs” quite prejudiced. Scenting, like curing, moistening and grinding, can be done in very diverse ways with many different results. And while I agree that most of the heavy snuff-takers (me included) rely almost solely on unscented blends, many of us find scented snuffs a treat, be it regular or occasional. It’s also quite strange (one of the first instances I’ve seen, I most confess) that there’s a full chapter dedicated to “the art of sneezing”, as sneezing is quite a strange occurrence for the seasoned snuff-taker: a further example of the very different ways one can understand snuff taking!
@MarvinLapsus, just today a Moroccoan guy asked me if he could have a pinch of my snuff just to help him sneeze. He doesn’t even smoke.
You may be interested in this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Particulars-Anecdotes-Snuff-Boxes-Snuff-Shops-Snuff-Takers/dp/1446040941/ref=sr\_1\_46?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393170901&sr=1-46&keywords=snuff I think it has possibly the best title I have ever seen!
@Koba22: I think this one was available in a pdf downloadable version, perhaps on @ermtony page? If my memory doesn’t fail me it was quite an amusing read.
@MarvinLapsus You are quite right, just looed it up: http://ermtony.pbworks.com/f/A+Pinch+of+Snuff+-+Anecdotes+of+Snuff+Taking.pdf Good old @ermtony , seems to already know or have everything we find!