A Small Early 19th Century Red Morocco Leather Despatch Box with a central swing handle. The bevelled top is embossed with a coronet of an earl with fan spandrels within an inner frame. The word PRIVATE appears on the forward bevel. The lock is a Davis's Patent. These locks were almost exclusively fitted to Government despatch boxes as they gave a high level of security. The interior with raised rims retains its original marbled paper and green velvet lining.
Dimensions
28 x 15 x 7 cm
How to operate the Davis's Patent lock
To Lock
Insert the key into the lock and rotate quarter turn anti-clockwise. Then push key further into the inner chamber. The key is then rotated
another quarter turn clockwise locking the box. The key may now be withdrawn and removed.
To Unlock
Insert key and rotate quarter turn clockwise., Then insert the key further into the lock and turned
anti clockwise Withdraw and rotate the key clockwise and further turn to unlock the box. The key
can then be removed by turning it further clockwise and withdrawn.
