Small Leather Calling Card Case

A leather Calling or Business Card Case.

The case is made in two parts with the top fitting over an inner sleeve to the case. Both sections are stamped with a circle to ensure the top is put back on the correct way. The case is decorated with vertical, tooled lines to the leather and was made to only take a few cards at a time. The card size it will hold can be no larger than 7.5 by 4 cm.

Contained within the case is the card of Mr. Edward N. Wood. Written in ink below his name is 'Solicitor' and '12 Blomfield Street, EC'. This is likely to refer to Edward Negus Wood who was born in Woodbridge, Suffolk to John and Isabelle Wood. John was also a Solicitor. By 1881, Edward had moved to 71 Ashburnum Grove, Greenwich, was married with a daughter and was working in the City as a Solicitor. He had several work addresses over the years including 66 Gresham Street in 1884 and 74 Coleman Street in 1890. By 1901 he was living and working at 12 Burney Street, Greenwich and had also become Deputy Coroner for London and Kent.

The small size of this Business Card Case makes it easy to slip into a pocket but of course, today, the cards to use with it would probably be a bespoke size. Mid to late 19th century.