The Dublin & London first appeared around 1940 and, according to Mark Irwin’s research, it was Peterson’s highest-grade regular production line until the introduction of the Supreme in 1953. Even after that, it remained one of the very top grades in the catalog for decades.

There was also a London-made version of the same line, stamped London & Dublin, produced in Peterson’s English factory. The Dublin & London name was used on the Irish-made pipes.

And when you look at this 999, the grade makes perfect sense. We have a beautiful natural finish, excellent briar and the classic P-Lip vulcanite stem. The whole thing is very understated compared with some of Peterson’s later high-grade releases — there is no flashy mount or exotic acrylic stem here, just very good materials and one of Peterson’s most iconic shapes.

One of the little details that helps place this as an older example is the forked P in the stamping. It is one of those small details that is easy to overlook, but it immediately points us toward the earlier production period.

The Dublin & London is one of those lines that I think deserves much more attention today. It sat right at the top of Peterson’s grading hierarchy for a very long time, yet you hear far less about it than the Supreme.

The pipes go through one final check before shipping, so if you notice any inconsistencies in the carnauba finish or smudges they will be taken care of before your pipe is shipped to you.