The Dunhill Christmas Pipe is a special series in and of itself, featuring limited-number annual runs of beautiful Dunhill briars accompanied by special book-style presentation cases and specifically designed tampers cast in sterling silver. That having been said, the Christmas Pipes that were issued from 1993-2004 have a particularly special place amongst collectors, as these were 12 the years during which Dunhill followed the theme of what is perhaps the most famous Christmas carol of all, and an English one at that:
The Twelve Days of Christmas.
The 1999 edition brought us “Seven Swans a-swimming”, represented by the graceful bend of Dunhill’s “08” Bulldog shape in handy Group 3 size. This one sports the gorgeous Amber Root finish and a Cumberland stem, as well of course as a special “Seven Swans a-swimming” sterling silver band. As you would expect, the silver tamper depicts the Seven Swans themselves, circling and frolicking about the base of a cluster of cattails.
This example also happens to be number “4/500” produced, a special number to collectors where Dunhill’s limited editions are concerned, given that “1/x” remains in the hands of Dunhill. I don’t know where that leaves "2/x" or “3/x”, but I can say that I’ve never seen a single one yet.
- Eric N. Squires
