This is possible a silly question, but can anyone tell me what seed-leaf tobacco is - or more specifically elucidate on Virginian seed-leaf tobacco ?

Yes…The variety of Virginia tobacco seed was used to grow the tobacco leaf. You see this a lot with cigar tobacco’s saying Cuban seed tobacco. It’s not exactly Cuban (or Virginia) tobacco because of the soil and climate differences but it is the same plant variety. I would assume that these seed stocks ARE from plants grown in Cuba or Virginia etc. but I can only speculate.

Speaking of Varieties. There are many variations of Virginia, Burley, etc. From seed stocks grown in different areas, Zimbabwe for example, to plants from specific areas which are let to reproduce to become naturalized to that specific environment. Oriental, Turkish, and Thuoc Lao are good examples. The Thuoc Lao I have read is a mixed breed of Virginia and Burley that has been let go to seed and harvested for so long in the area that it is a unique and particularly strong tobacco variety. Only to be found in Vietnam. Plants with specific mutations such as the Elephant Tobacco get selected by humans to reproduce and don’t forget the genetically engineered tobacco’s that are out there. So to re-iterate, a Virginia seed leaf tobacco is one that guarantees specific traits of the Virginia tobacco variety.

Thanks for that detailed explanation, Juxstaposer. The question arose from a snuff made, according to the vendor, from pure Virginia seed-leaf. The claim piqued my curiosity.

Yes, the Viking snuff I presume. Looks like a winner!

I would also speculate that the verbiage Virginia seed leaf instead of Virginia seed tobacco might indicate that no stem parts are used.