Red Despatch Case With Cover

A Victorian red leather on softwood Despatch Case with outer leather hide cover.

The case is made of deep red leather that has been passed through a rolling machine to give it a hatched pattern. It is fixed on to a soft wood and has a black leather interior with raised lip to ensure a good, watertight seal between the lid and main box. The interior of the lid is also lined in black leather with two crossed elastic ribbons. These ribbons have sagged over time through holding papers etc.

The lid of the case has a gilt metal, flush campaign handle. There is no name or office marked to the top of the case and it would have been bought for private use. The lock is a Bramah but does not retain its key. One could be made at a cost of approximately £ 100 sterling.

This Despatch Case still has its outer leather case, lined in wool and its perhaps why the condition of the red leather is so good. The outer case has suffered in providing this protection, with cracks and splits to the leather to the edges and damaged stitching etc. Many such cases were either purchased without the additional cover or have parted company with their Despatch case since. The fact that this one remains is considered a bonus. The case has a belt strap to secure it and three simple tooled tram lines to the top with a thistle motif to each corner. There are two paper labels, one covering the other, to the top of the case. The ink inscription to the top one has faded with only the partial wording 'Box No. ...' legible.

This a good, red leather Despatch Case by an unknown maker. Late 19th Century.

Dimensions of red Despatch Case are given.