Still working to clear my own collections, this old beauty is a Napoleon III (c.1850-70s) French aide d' memoire, a notebook with calendar and a pocket for calling cards, a silver stylus or mechanical pencil which doubles as the closure post, these were a necessity for busy upper class women, keeping appointments and notations. The early forerunner of the Daytimer, and by now, our smart phones, they were tucked into one's purse or pocket. Rather rare to find them in such nice condition as this one, complete with its original stylus/pencil. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the old tortoise shell is remarkably clear of damage, even to the steam-formed spine which is also shell. A very well-kept silk satin interior with gusseted side compartment for calling (or business) cards, and really quite rare to find it still has its stylus. All you'll need is a few folded pages to form a notebook to go along with the calendar, and it's complete as it was 150-170 years ago. The silver cartouche remains unengraved, ready for your own monogram. Lovely as a gift for someone special.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don't hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we're totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world.
Our offering exceeds the age limitation of "more than 100 years of age", and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.
