“SP stands for Spanish Port? Meaning that I’m sure Spain was trading with a wide variety of countries, and so I wonder if they didn’t brand the barrels of snuff as to the destination of the snuff, that being a Spanish sea port.” No. Snuff production in Spain, like France was a royal monopoly. With the exception of contraband Spain did not import snuff - it exported it. ‘History of my life, Volumes 9-10’ By Giacomo Casanova (pages 308-309) provides an amusing observation on this point.
The Scene - A Good Snuff Shop, in or nearby the City of London, circa 1700 (or whenever). Customer: I wish to speak with you concerning this snuff I purchased here a week ago. Snuffman: Indeed sir, and how may I be of assistance? Customer: Well, some while ago a good friend of mine gave me a gift of some Plain Sanish. I found it VERY good. I came here with the intention of getting some more of it. Snuffman: Indeed, sir. Customer: I find that what you have given me is, although good indeed, however not quite similar. Snuffman: I think that sir will find that what he has purchased is Spanish Plain. It is a product of our own devising and shares many of the characterstics of the Plain Spanish. It has the virtue sir, of being produced in our very own English mills, not far off in the countryside, around Mitcham; if sir is acquainted with that area. Customer: I see… Snuffman: We shall of course be able to obtain and supply the Plain Spanish sort but I would have to advise sir that it would be CONSIDERABLY more ex-pensive. Customer: Exactly how much more ex-pensive. Snuffman: *@#@~@ Customer: I see. Well, in any case, I find your Spanish Plain just as nice. May I have some more… Snuffman: Yes of course ,sir. Will, pass the SP.
@petersuki …O.K. then guess I will snuff some Spanish Gem instead of some Spanish Jewel. I just think maybe we should scratch some notes on a cave wall so that the future generations might understand what SG stands for. Dare I comment about history repeating itself. Why yes, I do.
Perhaps some brainstorming over S.S. might shed some light on S.P.
For some odd reason each time I take a pinch of WoS S.S snuff I can’t help but think of it meaning Secret Service…makes me feel like a secret agent or something haha.
OT (Tonka. I can buy a jar online for 2.50. Postage added is 4.50. £7 for a few tonka seems a bit much. I have quite a lot of relatively plain snuff I’d like to add a bean to. How do get your tonka, if you use them? Sorry to go OT but there’s a wealth of experience here.(I’ve tried McGahey at 50p a bean, but he’s not got back to me yet.))
@petersuki I buy tonka beans off ebay, they are used in wiccan magic I am told, so new age shops should have some. 1oz (about 25 beans) should set you back no more than £3, buy 3 packs to offset the postage of £3 and it should work out about 16p a bean.
Many Thanks Khalid.
Fanciful
@juxtaposer If, to begin with, it was recognised as being in the style of Spanish snuff I suppose.
As usual, best conjecture, and hang on to that until proved wrong. It’s all that can be reasonably done. Like everyone else I’d welcome something more certain. Sans Pareil seems fanciful in that I have not seen any reference to such a sort anywhere. If a reference was found then it would be something you could ride on. The fact that there was train of this name is a pretty guess for a snuffing anorak. Perhaps I’ll check under sans pareil in the OED. If under this there was, for example, ‘A variety of snuff popular in blahdeblah’, it’d be a worthwhile conjecture. If on the other hand no such sort is ANYWHERE recorded we might just as well go for, say, Sans Petrol (on the grounds that it was produced without the use of the combustion engine).
Vathek Very good! But if, as you say, San(s) Pareil was a recognised product I’d say you had a good conjecture, not more than this (see my comments above, where I considered this possibility). Unfortunately the matter is not quite settled. Yours is now, in my view, as I stated above, ‘a worthwhile conjecture’, as good as any probably, and you might have a bull’s eye. But on the other hand you may have a red herring. For instance it is by no means beyond the realms of possibilty that ‘SP’ pre-dates San(s) Pareil and this grandiose name was merely a commercial tactic by the firm you mention. I’d be interested to hear from Philips; his view on this. Meantime I’ll take a look at the sources you mention.
I think what Vathek is trying to tell us is that SP stands for Sociological (ex)Periment.
“As usual, best conjecture, and hang on to that until proved wrong. It’s all that can be reasonably done. Like everyone else I’d welcome something more certain.” Either my son or I will be visiting the private archives of Sharrow next year - date to be arranged with the vice chairman in January 2012. ‘The Wilsons of Sharrow: the snuff-makers of Sheffield’ by Mark Chaytor is the definitive history of the company, but I will be looking specifically for any clues in the earliest records from 1750 to throw light on the most perplexing mystery in snuff history. References to S.P prior in date to that held on the National Archive and codification (if any) of Sharrow’s earliest trade lists will also be sought, as will references to the less well known but equally baffling S.S mystery. Naturally anything else of interest will be noted and duly reported. Will also arrange an appointment to view the Sheffield Archives while I’m there for any clues from the Westbrook mill. The really interesting archives, of course, are Sharrow’s. I’ll open a separate thread detailing the results next year. In the meantime there’s time for a thorough course on 18th century palaeography, some new reading glasses and a large magnifying glass.
At least S.P,rich in variety, isn’t in danger of disappearance like the legendary Café Royal.
I think a call to Smith’s will provide you with access to Café Royal
Nice information,thanks Xander.
Mcgahey is the only tobacconist who advertises Smith’s Cafe Royal that I’ve found. I tried to get some Cardinal there once but he was oos. (Have to say I was disappointed with the Golden Cardinal when I went up to Charing Cross Rd to get it - and the price! I think Abbraxas is cheaper and is a much more interesting snuff - imho).
G. Smith & Sons (United Kingdom) (currently contract made by Gawith Hoggarth TT Ltd.) An independent tobacconist with its own range of snuffs. These in the past have been contracted made by either Samuel Gawith or Gawith Hoggarth or both. Storefront address: 74 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0BG Tel. 0207 836 7422 (domestic) 00 44 207 836 7422 (international)
^^From my FAQ entry. I can’t comment on the prices, but they supposedly do mail order. If you need some Golden Cardinal, I suggest trying Samuel Gawith’s Bouquet! The shop needs more visits to reform it to a proper snuff shop. If you’re in France or USA, then you should use your telephone.
This text from an American journal is the earliest reference to the meaning of S.P (SP) I’ve found so far, and for which there is no ambiguity. It’s still not a particularly old source, but it supports the Spanish theory. It’s taken from ‘Historical Collections of the Essex Institute (Volume 105) 1863’. Because its not a free eBook I can’t read the original source for the definition (which may be much older). “Spanish Snuff — snuff of Spanish origin. Also entered as Sp snuff, Span prize snuff, Spanish snuff, Spanish prize snuff.” The same source also describes Prize snuff as: “Prize snuff — a confusing term, could be tobacco captured from an enemy vessel. Could also be snuff “prized” to fit into a shipping container.” The ‘Sheffield Pride’ school is shaking on its foundations.