GBD Original London Mixture - Large 200g English Tin - c. 1968

Long before pipe tobacco became a specialty niche, GBD was already a legend.

Founded in the mid-19th century and firmly established in London by the turn of the century, Ganneval, Bondier and Donninger - GBD - stood among the great names of British pipe making. By the post war decades, a GBD briar was a mark of taste, and the tobaccos bearing the same stamp were crafted to meet that standard.

Offered here is a vintage GBD Original London Mixture, dating to the late 1960s to early 1970s, from the final era when English mixtures were still blended in the old tradition. Produced in England and distributed in the United States by A. Oppenheimer and Co., Cadogan Investments Ltd., this tin reflects a time when pipe tobacco was made deliberately, with leaf, patience, and restraint.

Original London Mixture was GBDs expression of the classic London style. A carefully judged balance of Syrian Latakia, fine Oriental tobaccos including Dubec, and matured Virginias, slowly matured and blended by hand. The label promises a tobacco entirely free of any adulterant or artificial flavouring, a phrase that speaks clearly to an era before shortcuts and modern compromises.

The large 200 gram tin, complete with its original ring pull opening lid and illustrated instructions, reflects the confidence of mid century English pipe culture. These were not novelty blends. They were meant to live on a shelf, to be opened gradually, and to become part of a winter ritual.

Blends such as this relied on Syrian Latakia, a leaf once prized for its soft, wine like smokiness and depth, and now lost to history. With decades of natural aging, mixtures from this era often evolve beautifully, the Virginias darkening and sweetening, the Latakia mellowing, and the Orientals settling into a quiet, incense like harmony that modern recreations struggle to achieve.

This is the kind of tin once wrapped in paper and placed beneath a Christmas tree, paired with a new briar and a promise of long winter evenings ahead. Today, it stands as a tangible link to the golden age of English pipe smoking.

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DETAILS
-Blend - GBD Original London Mixture
-Production era - late 1960s to early 1970s
-Tin size - 200 grams
-Manufactured in - England
-US distributor - A. Oppenheimer and Co., Cadogan Investments Ltd.
-Tin style - original ring pull lid with printed opening instructions
-Condition - excellent exterior with no notable issues
-Seal - tin exhibits gentle internal movement when handled, consistent with age and long term storage. Contents have not been inspected

This auction contains tobacco.  If you live in certain states, you will be unable to purchase this product.