Description

Signed Initials G.C.D

From our Boxes collection, we are pleased to offer this Victorian Moroccan Leather Dispatch Box. The box of rectangular form covered in black moroccan leather with a tooled and chamfered lid surmounted by a brass carry handle and Queen Victoria’s crowned monogram. When opened the interior of the dispatch box reveals the matching black Moroccan leather lining with a brass lock plate stamped S. Mordan & Co London alongside the manufactures mark for renowned dispatch box makers Wickwar & Co 6 Poland Street. Manufactures to H.M Stat’y Office. The Dispatch Box dates to the late 19th century Victorian period during the reign of Queen Victorian circa 1870.

The Dispatch Box comes complete with a sprung working lock and tasselled key. The sprung lock mechanism means when the despatch box is closed it automatically locks.

Wickwar & Co was established in 1750. Wickwar works for Crown and Country to produce the iconic Despatch Box seen held by many prime minsters and government officials. Since crafting the red box for William Ewart Gladstone’s first budget in 1853, Wickwar has continued to create boxes for subsequent chancellors. Wickwar’s red box remained in use by every chancellor until 2011, with just two exceptions: James Callaghan (1964–1967) and Gordon Brown (1997–2007), who commissioned new ones in 1965 and 1997 respectively. Over the span of 150 years, this historic box has served to 51 chancellors. The legacy of Gladstone’s budget box persisted with Alistair Darling (2007–2010) and saw its last use with George Osborne in June 2010. Wickwar & Co’s red box stands as a remarkable symbol of tradition, craftsmanship, and its pivotal role in the UK’s financial governance.

Dispatch Box is one of several types of boxes used in government business. Despatch boxes primarily include both those sometimes known as ‘red boxes’ or ministerial boxes, which are used by the Sovereign and ministers in the British government and boxes used in the lower houses of the parliaments of the United Kingdom and Australia to securely transport sensitive documents. The term was used as early as the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, referring to a box used to carry an important message for the Queen.

Morocco leather is a vegetable-tanned leather known for its softness, pliability, and ability to take colour. It has been widely used in the manufacture of wallets, luggage, and bookbindings. Interestingly despite its name ‘Moroccan Leather,’ Morocco was typically not the original source of the leather. Some of the highest quality Morocco leather, usually goat skin, used in book binding was sourced from Northern Nigeria and Anatolia (Turkey). First known production of morocco leather is attributed to pre-11th century Moors, in which alum tanned morocco leather was stained pink. While it was not common in England and in more northern parts of Europe until the 17th century, it has been established that Morocco leather was used in Italy pre-1600 as goat leather was more common there. Morocco leather is valued in Western countries for its use in luxury bookbindings because of its strength, suppleness, and because it enhanced any gilding.

Sampson Mordan was a British silversmith and a co-inventor of the first patented mechanical pencil. During his youth, he was an apprentice of the inventor and locksmith Joseph Bramah, who patented the first elastic ink reservoir for a fountain pen. Upon Mordan’s death in 1843, his sons Sampson Junior and Augustus inherited the firm. S. Mordan & Co. continued to make silverware and brass postal scales until 1941 when their factory was destroyed by bombs during the London Blitz in WWII.

Victorian, an era of British History corresponding approximately with the reign of Queen Victoria from the 20th of June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901 however, there are arguments stating that the Victorian era is actually from 1820 until 1914 proceeded by Georgian era and followed by the Edwardian era.

With every purchase from Mark Goodger Antiques, you will receive our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen piece and an independent invoice (for insurance purposes) will be enclosed. As well as being protected by a no-hassle, money-back policy, your piece will be entirely insured during the shipping process to ensure the safety of your item.

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