I was just reading about tobacco varieties on wikipedia, and was surprised to learn that Virginia and burley are relatively ‘new’ on the scene, around the mid 1800’s. What type or types of tobacco were used to make snuff during its enormous popularity in the 18th century? I’m interested in making some snuff, and it would be cool to make something historically authentic.

This text provides an idea of tobaccos available in Britain from the late 18th century to around 1890. It is by no means exclusive. There is, for example, no mention of the much favoured tobacco from Masulipatam on the Bay of Bengal in India. Tobaccos ********** "There is very little to be said on this subject, for the varieties were so few in use until fairly recent years, and it is not the intention here to describe those things in use to-day, unless they existed many years ago. In 1797, Virginia tobacco is quoted at 33. 6d. per Ib. This would probably be of the description of shag, though it does not appear to be called by that name until 1846. In the same year Latakia is mentioned, the price being I2S. per Ib. Varinas Canaster at IDS. per Ib. also appears at the same period. This tobacco was better known years ago than it is now. It was of Dutch origin, rather broadly cut, suitable for smoking in a large pipe. This description of tobacco is in use still, but only seen in mixtures. It is curious to notice that though the Virginia tobacco was so low in price, the Latakia and Varinas Canaster were very much about the same price as they were in 1914. In 1800 a tobacco called El Cham seems to have been very popular. Its name rather denotes that it was an Oriental tobacco ; the price also, i8s. per Ib., gives this impression too. This tobacco was frequently supplied to King George IV when Prince of Wales. In 1819 Returns tobacco is mentioned at 55. lod. per Ib. This is largely in use at the present day, though, unfortunately, not at the same price. In 1823 Turkish tobacco is quoted at 143. per Ib. In 1825 Maryland Returns at 6s. 8d. per Ib. appears. In 1833 Persian and Russian tobaccos both are mentioned at the same price, i8s. 6d. per Ib. In 1852 Birdseye First: seems to be entered. In 1859 Tobacco Mixture is mentioned. This would be one of the mixtures in use now. In 1883 Gold Leaf Honey dew appears. These are practically the only tobaccos that were sold by the Firm up to 1890, when the Mixtures now in use were added one by one. " From THE OLD SNUFF HOUSE OF FRIBOURG & TREYER by GEORGE EVANS

“I’m interested in making some snuff, and it would be cool to make something historically authentic.” The same author goes on to say… "Snuff of the present day gives no idea of what it once was, and bears no comparison to that of former years. Its fragrance was derived by careful blending of snuffs made of various tobaccos, and not by the addition of scents or essences. Scented snuffs were sometimes taken, but the proportion was small in comparison to the quantity of unscented snuffs sold. Scented snuffs came more into vogue as the more refined varieties were dying out; the latter, as time went on and the demand for them lessened, were no longer made and are now unobtainable. Many of the numerous mixtures are now only names, and, though fine snuff could easily be made again, it would be almost impossible to reproduce some of these mixtures in their original form. " … not that should put you off because no one would any the wiser.

Lol I’ve actually read that book, but I didn’t remember the dates. I guess wikipedia was either wrong, or just referring to common American usage rather than discovery. Thanks or digging that out for me :o)

A Dutch booklet from 1785 gives an extensive account of all the countries which procuce tabacco: Holland, France, Indonesia, Japan, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Malta, Italy, Brazil, USA, Poland, Ukrain, China, Russia, Persia. However in the recipes for snuff there is only one type of tobacco mentioned: TOBACCO! A book published in 1867 gives in the recipes in which the type of tobacco is descibed by the region where it is grown: Holland: Amerfoorter Bestgoed; Cuba: Havanna leaves; Hongary: Szegedinger; USA: Virginia, Maryland, Kentuky. Jaap Bes.

perhaps a bit off topic, I understand Napoleon bonaparte used huge amounts of snuff. I heard it was something incredible, 80lbs a yr? I wonder if his was scented or whatever?

It smelled of defeat :o)

“perhaps a bit off topic, I understand Napoleon bonaparte used huge amounts of snuff. I heard it was something incredible, 80lbs a yr? I wonder if his was scented or whatever? “ Of Napoleon’s two valets, Constant and Marchand, the former, in his memoirs states - “It has been said that his Majesty used a great quantity of tobacco, and that in order to take it still more frequently and quickly, he put it in a pocket of his vest, lined with skin for that purpose. [“fausses pattes”] This is an error. The Emperor never took tobacco except in his snuff-boxes; and although he wasted a great quantity of it, he really used very little, as he took a pinch, held it to his nose simply to smell it, and let it fall immediately. It is true that the place where he had been was covered with it; but his handkerchiefs, irreproachable witnesses in such matters, were scarcely stained, and although they were white and of very fine linen, certainly bore no marks of a snuff-taker. Sometimes he simply passed his open snuff-box under his nose in order to breathe the odour of the tobacco it contained. These boxes were of black shell, with hinges, and of a narrow, oval shape; they were lined with gold, and ornamented with antique cameos, or medallions, in gold or silver. At one time he used round tobacco-boxes; but as it took two hands to open them, and in this operation he sometimes dropped either the box or the top, he became disgusted with them. His tobacco was grated very coarse, and was usually composed of several kinds of tobacco mixed together.” The Private Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. While exiled on St. Helena he (according to several sources including George Evans) opened an account with Fribourg & Treyer under a pseudonym, receiving seven pounds a month but further information is not forthcoming. Some years ago there was an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum featuring artefacts and letters of Lord Nelson and Napoleon. Most of Napoleon’s exhibits were from his exile in St. Helena including letters written in very poor English and his English lesson notes. The phonetic spelling and blunt demands reminded me of a Corsican Mafia hoodlum (Napoleon was an Italian Corsican). Yoo geeva me 500 jars Chambertin… (else Luigi and boys come, takeaway knee-caps) His exorbitant daily demands for wine were finally limited to - “9 bottles Claret, 1 bottle Madeira , 1 bottle Vin de Grave, 1 bottle Champagne , 1 bottle Constantia, 6 bottles Teneriff and 20 bottles Cape ." Napoleon’s vast consumption of snuff is mythical, but there is little doubt about his gluttonous use of wine. An anecdotal story concerning Napoleonic delusion ------------------------------------------ The new inmate at the mental hospital announced in a loud voice that he was Napoleon. This was particularly interesting, because the institution already had a “Napoleon”. The head psychiatrist, after due consideration, decided to put the two men in the same room, feeling that the similarity of their delusions might prompt an adjustment in each that would help in curing them. It was a calculated risk, of course, for the men might react violently to one another; but they were introduced and then left alone, and no disturbance was heard from the room that night. The next morning the doctor had a talk with his new patient and was more than pleasantly surprised when he was told, “Doctor, I’ve been suffering from a delusion. I know now that I am not Napoleon.” “That’s wonderful,” said the doctor, pleased with the recovery. “Yes,” said the patient, smiling demurely, “I’m Josephine”

So to get my own private tropical island far from the evils of civilization, but still delivered to me from said evil all the snuff and wine I could want, all I have to do is try to conquer Europe and lose? I bet I can even have a nice vegtable garden. I really need to re-think my life strategy here.