Description

Gold Tooled

From our Boxes collection, we are pleased to offer this Victorian Moroccan Red Leather Dispatch Box. The box of slim elongated rectangular form covered in red moroccan leather with a gold tooled lid with three Queen Victoria’s crowned monograms framed within an embossed border. The box is secured by two brass catches located at the front of the box which open on thumb tabs beside two crowns and a central VR initial. When opened the interior of the dispatch box reveals a blue cross hatch silk paper lining. The Dispatch Box dates to the late 19th century Victorian period during the reign of Queen Victorian circa 1870.

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.

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.

Additional information