My particular addiction is collecting. I am not sure when it started. It probably dates back to around 1978 and advent of Star Wars figures, although it didn't really take hold until the 90s at the height of the comic book craze when the comic industry was producing "gold-foil holographic 3D covers" and super hero toy lines became prominent collector's items. Throw in Star Trek paraphernalia and the renewal of Star Wars licensing, and it was a downward spiral for me.

I collected nearly everything: books, Zippo lighters, knives, Beany Babies, Hot Wheels, Pogs, Magic the Gathering cards, gem stones, Tarot cards, Native American artifacts, Happy Meal toys, GI Joes (Well, just about any action figure line) and who knows how much else that I have since forgotten and forsaken.

Relocating to Myrtle Beach proved to be a cure, or at least a way for me to cut back. Without the room or the free income I had left behind, I had to relegate much of my collections to storage in my parents' basement. And while I still collect a few things here and there, most of my urges to own every item of a set is long gone. But, since starting here at Smokingpipes.com, beginning a pipe collection seems to strike the right balance between providing a satisfying sense of acquisition and maintaining restraint.

Pipe collecting is a perfect collecting hobby for me. I was never one of those "sealed in mint condition" collectors. I read my comics, posed the GI Joes in running battles along shelves and in various otherwise unused nooks and crannies and generally preferred collections that I could use in some, at least theoretical, purpose.

And while I know that there are pipe collectors out there that don't smoke all their pipes (as our estate selections often show), smoking a pipe from a collection isn't looked upon with horror like in some other collecting fields. Experimenting with the different pipes, tobaccos, blends and accessories is part of the allure. And here at Smokingpipes, we are all about helping you enjoy that allure, and expanding your collection.

Speaking of collecting, this update introduces something I know many of you have been eagerly awaiting: Peterson's 2013 St. Patrick's Day pipes. We loaded up a large variety of shapes, some rarely seen from Peterson. Also, we have some excellent pipes from Italian pipemaker Gabriele Dal Fiume, a selection of Dunhills, as well as plenty pipes from Savinelli, Tsuge, Chacom, Stanwell, Luciano, and Johs -- plus plenty of estate pipes too.

 Christopher Huff: Copywriter