I've collected a lot of these over the past 4 decades, so this comes from my personal collection. Elegant steam-formed covers, hinged and with a card holder and an ivory wafer note pad within, also hinged, I used to tuck my own business cards in and take these in palm of hand to after-hours meet n greet events - perfect conversation starter back then when I was working for Paramount, Inc. This one was a favorite. I could tuck in car key and some cash or a credit card, business cards - good to go. The clasp holds tight, the shell is beautiful chocolate color with a bit of cognac. You see there's a fitting for a stylus or pencil, too, but I don't have the original. Slender bridge pencils fit perfectly, though. Tuck in hand or in purse. Measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Created in France, Napoleon III era (c.1850-70), these were quite popular, 'necessary' and are sometimes also called 'necessaire'. There is a single flaw, not much noticeable, a small repaired chip near one hinge. Seems it might have been dropped at some time on that one back corner. Very small, you'll have to go looking for it. No flaws to the ivory, which is quite rare, very thin so often cracked or chipped - this one is lovely. No monogram on the silver plated brass shield cartouche. You can add your own.
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.
