WHOAH!
That Oriel tin is friggin' spectacular.
Amazing that it survived in such fine fettle, it looks gorgeous, and I love the typeface they use for O R I E L --- very modern for the time methinks.
Whenever I see these ancient old things I'm always curious as to what-in-the-hell the actual blend may have been, in some cases it is rather obvious, but stuff like this is a riddle.
Why did they choose the name Oriel?
What does that word even mean?
(Middle English, from Old French oriol, porch, from Medieval Latin oriolum)
Old French oriol ("gallery, corridor"), Late Latin oriolum ("portico, hall"), probably from Latin aureolus ("gilded"), applied to an apartment decorated with gilding.
The "gilded" roots makes me think perhaps it was a bright Virginia?
Always hard to say in such matters as info is scarce and blend descriptions were somewhat rare.
I didn't even know where Stockport is, down below Manchester I now know after a quick scan of the map --- regional tastes are another thing that I'm fascinated with, like how up North they usually preferred stronger more stout baccy, and each region seemingly had their own peculiarities, especially during that time period before the massive industry amalgamation.
Thank you bacco for posting up all the cool stuff you have, it has been a true blessing that you actively share such the rarities and has thusly enriched my life in seeing it as well as your textual descriptions that accompany the images, otherwise everything is lost in the rubbledust of forgotten faded history, so glad you give it life.
Ah!
Hold on,
did a quickie for robinson stockport tobacco before hitting the "submit" button and indeed my instincts seem to be correct regarding blend composition,
it appears that Oriel was a Gold Leaf Navy Cut.
