Smoking rarities go under the hammer
Albert Einstein was rarely without his pipe, and Marilyn Monroe gave the cigarette sex appeal.
Today smoking is being stubbed out, but at one time a carefully carved pipe or slinky cigarette holder was to be admired.
Now a rare collection of smoking paraphernalia is going under the hammer in Lancashire and drawing interest from smokers around the globe.
Lots include a 17th century early Bristol Monkey clay pipe, Oriental opium pipes and a colourful glass smoking pipe.
Scores of smoking enthusiasts from America, Austria, Holland and Germany have registered their interest. The auction is on Thursday, at Silverwoods of Lancashire, at the Ribblesdale Centre in Clitheroe.
Principle antiques auctioneer Wilf Mould said: "There are people who do collect these things for their individuality. We have had stacks of inquiries from America where they have smoking clubs.
"We are expecting interest on the phone where we have to give a description. There has also been interest from Austria, Holland and Germany."
The items have been put up for auction by a Lancashire man who inherited the collection.
Mr Mould added: "The better ones would have been smoked by people who were wealthy."
>> Vote in our latest web poll
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
