Gorgeous antique English hallmarked sterling silver & genuine tortoise shell 15.75" letter opener, actually a document or text "page turner" with highly ornate handle with 1903 inscription! The handle bears English sterling silver hallmarks, the London date letter is for 1897 and the silversmith is William Gibson & John Langman c. 1890s. The inscription reads 29th July 1903 so was made prior to the dedication.
One of several of these large document or text page turners, mostly sterling silver with either tortoise shell or ivory blades, so I thought I'd add a little bit of history on and the actual purpose of them.
These are often referred to as letter openers but in all actuality, they are page turners. You see, the oils on fingers & hands can have a bad effect on old tests or manuscripts and so these were employed to turn the pages without leaving any soiling, residues or oils that could eventually harm the leaves. Human skin contains natural oils, acids, and salts that, over time, can cause irreversible damage to fragile paper, vellum, and parchment. This includes staining, embrittlement, and providing a medium for mold and bacteria to grow. I'll also mention that this is why conservators and archivists today still use clean, gloved hands or tools when handling such materials.
A letter opener or "paper knife" was often designed with a slightly sharper, tapered edge to slit open the sealed folds of letters or the uncut pages of newly bound books. A page turner, by contrast, had a broader, blunter, and smoother blade, optimized for sliding under and lifting a page without tearing or creasing it.
Very good to excellent condition! I see no chips, cracks or damage to the blade and no dents, dimples, damage or repairs to the sterling silver handle. See images for all measurements.
