P & E SCHAFER, 27 PICCADILLY LONDON
A Magnificent Victorian Morocco Leather Writing Compendium with silver monogram and mounts & fittings with London hallmarks for the years c1872, including the corner brackets, lock & lock plate, handle brackets, clasps, even the hinges & interior corner reinforcements. Working Bramah Patent lock with key (please see last picture).
The box opens twice, firstly revealing three writing 'slates', lift-out caddy containing the matching leather ink well & lights box with silver mounts hallmarked for 1878, and a removable pen tray above a compartment divided into three sections. When it is opened again the shot silk writing surface is displayed. There are storage compartments beneath both sections, one containing a leather bound blotting book.
Inside the lid, at the press of of a silver tab button below the lock plate the stationery rack springs forward for easy access to the stationery etc. This rack also holds another blotter book ( bound in watered silk), also a a leather bound diary/ almanac for the year 1881 and a matching note book, both unused. The compendium retains all of its fitted contents including pen, pencil, penknife, correcting knife ruler & page turner. All these items bear the monogram of the original owner, as engraved on the silver tops of the inkwell & lights box.
The compendium is in remarkably fine condition, having had very little usage.
Weight 5.10 kg
Measurements. 36 x 26 x 15.5 cm
