Dunhill: Brothers Montgolfier First Manned Balloon Flight County (4101) (24/40) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill honors the French brothers Montgolfier and their contributions to the world of aeronautics with a limited edition of the English marque's "01" straight Apple, in versatile Group 4 size. Aviation pioneers and the inventors of the hot air balloon, Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier conceived of the idea after watching hot embers rise into the air, and, after much trial and error, Jacques-Étienne became the first human to leave the earth in tethered flight, in 1783. It seems fitting to commemorate these two brilliant adventurers with another invention that harnesses fire, and Dunhill has created a special run of 101 sets for this very purpose, with 18 available in Root Briar, 40 in the County finish, and 42 wearing their own invention: the world's first sandblasted finish, Shell Briar.

This pipe set is 24/40 offering the pastoral County sandblast, with the rich, earthy tones of the stummel complemented by a tapered Cumberland stem. A gleaming silver band at the shank adds a flash of elegance and a striking visual break between stem and stummel, while the pipe's rim is left smooth for textural contrast. The timeless straight Apple shape proves once again why Dunhill maintains such a prominent place in pipe history, and the hand-cut stem delights with a promise of a comfortable smoke.

The set comes complete in a leather-bound book that serves as a handsome display case, with The White Spot logo and a tribute to the pioneers on the spine and a full-color presentation of their exploits on the front. A sterling silver tamper formed to look like a vintage hot air balloon provides the perfect complement, and rightfully earns its own custom place in the case. A bespoke composition and a commemoration worthy of even the most distinguished collection, this piece is a spectacular offering.