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"Mycroft
took snuff from a tortoiseshell box, and brushed away
the wandering grains from his coat front with a large,
red silk handkerchief" (GREE).
Of
course, tobacco is used in other forms; and the Canon
specifically mentions cigars and cigarettes as well
as snuff. Of cigars, there are countless types and sizes.
Each cigar is classified by its shape, its length, and
its diameter or "ring gauge." The "ring
gauge" is a measurement divided into a 64th of
an inch. So when a cigar's ring gauge is X (where X
could be between 1 - 64), it's actual size is X/64".
There are plenty of shapes to choose from, a few sizes
being called Churchill, Lonsdale, Figurado, Corona,
and Robusto (but there are countless others). Names
and even sizes for the same name vary from country to
country and maker to maker (although many makers try
to reproduce "classic" sizes accurately),
so unless taking one specific brand, explaining the
size is practically useless.
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A
few examples of cigar size and shape differences
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Examples
of "ring gauge"
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Victorian Humidor
Watson
kept his own cigars in a humidor.
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When
smoked, depending on the shape of the cigar, the
end might have to be cut with a cigar cutter (or
bitten off). Cigars are often kept in humidors to
preserve the moisture content in the tobacco as
dry tobacco is far less pleasurable to the smoker.
Pipe tobacco is sometimes rehumidified, and it is
also often kept in air tight container for the same
reason. |
Coal Scuttle |
At 221B,
Holmes kept his cigars in the coal-scuttle (yes,
really) (MUSG).
But for traveling, he had a more conventional cigar-case
(SILV). |
Cigar Case |
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Holmes
also had a cigar box where he stored cigars that
he offered guests (as to Lestrade in NOBL). |
Cigar Box |
In SIGN,
Holmes comments, "To the trained eye there is as
much difference between the black ash of a Trichinopoly
and the white fluff of bird's-eye as there is between
a cabbage and a potato." A "Trichinopoly"
is an Indian cigar made in the now named Tiruchirapalli
(named Trichinopoly under British rule and now commonly
known as Trichy or Tiruchi) and Dindigul. Modern Trichy
cigars are described as "rough;" and some
modern brands are Black Tiger, London Calling, and Piccol
(in Panatela size). For a description of "bird's
eye," see the main tobacco index page which lists
cut varieties of tobacco.
Dr. Roylott
also smoked "strong Indian cigars," and these
might have also been of Trichy origin (SPEC).
Holmes had
clearly made an in-depth study of cigars, their composition,
and ash. He also identified Dutch imported Indian colony
cigars and "Havana" (Cuban) cigars in RESI.
Some of the most famous Cuban brands are Cohiba, Romeo
y Julieta, Montecristo, Partagas, Bolivar, Punch, and
Trinidad. (But if you are a first time buyer, beware
- there are many imitations out there. Careful examination
of the label can prevent the buying of fraudulence faux
Cubans - there are several websites out there in how
to tell a true Cuban label - if you need more info,
do a simple google search).
Both Holmes
and Dr. Watson smoked cigars (CARD,
NOBL, SILV, GLOR, FINA), though not as often
as their pipes. However, cigars sometimes would replace
their evening pipes (CARD).
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Cigarette
Holder
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Both
cigars and cigarettes were sometimes used with
holders, which allowed the smoker to handle the
holder instead of the cigar and cigarette (and
therefore also slightly lengthened the life of
the cigar or cigarette).
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Cigar
Holder
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Cigarettes
were also part of the duo's tobacco repertoire. Cigarettes
have been around since 1828, and they also come in several
varieties. Some are hand-rolled, some have filters,
some are filterless (or "unfiltered"). Today
the tobacco inside is also classified as ultra-light,
light, regular depending on the tobaccos strength. They
come in regular (King), 100s (Superking - which are
long), 120s (even longer) and wide or slim versions.
| Holmes
blue-smoke-emitting cigarettes were kept in a silver
cigarette-case (FINA).
Like a cigar case, these cases prevent damage to
the cylinder of tobacco (and may assist with retaining
some humidity in the tobacco). |
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Cigarettes,
like cigars, appear much less in the Canon than pipes.
Hence, pipe tobacco was the preferred type of tobacco
by 221B's famous residents. Nevertheless, Jeremy Brett's
portrayal of Holmes in the (fabulously done) Grenada
series, the "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"
(and subsequent continuances of the series), showed
many more visual references to cigarettes than appear
in the text (because he, himself, was a consument smoker).
Although we do not have specific information about the
type of cigarettes Holmes smoked, we do know that Dr.
Watson smoked Bradley cigarettes from Oxford Street.
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German
shaped gold mounted amethyst snuff box, c. 1740
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The
last form of consumable tobacco snuff. British
snuff was sniffed up the nose and Holmes himself
was not averse to this type of tobacco as he took
snuff in IDEN
(albeit rather rarely). The King of Bohemia gave
him a snuff box of old gold with an amethyst in
the center of the lid (IDEN).
Dr. Watson also periodically took snuff (IDEN).
But although those two gentlemen took their tobacco
in a variety of ways (really anyway they could
fulfill their nicotine fix), they much preferred
pipe tobacco. However, snuff appeared to be Mycroft
Holmes' principal tobacco of choice. His snuff
was kept in a tortoiseshell snuff box (GREE).
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Tortoiseshell
Snuff Box
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Please
note: Tobacco use carries significant risks to develop
various cancers, strokes, cardiovascular and respiratory
diseases.
For more
detailed and visual resources as to specific cigar sizes
see C.
Gars LTD, Neptune
Cigars
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