De La Rue Casket Inkwell

A smaller than standard size, nickel plated Patent Casket Ink by De La Rue & Co.

The outer 'casket' case of this portable inkwell gives it the belt and braces effect to make doubly sure that it doesn't open during travel and spill. The casket is hinged to open and lined in a thin leather skiver to give a tight fit to the removable inkwell. The inkwell lid opens by depressing the sprung button to access the glass bottle inside.

The casket is marked De La Rue & Co. Patent Casket Ink to the round window. Below that it's also marked Manufactured in Paris, Thos. De La Rue & Co. London & Paris. The other side of the casket has a rectangular window which is sized for the inkwell to stand up in to give it added stability when used. The inkwell has the same information noted as the casket.

A number of unnamed inkwells were made to a similar design to this inkwell but they didn't have an outer case. De La Rue made this a selling point with the inkwell being far safer to avoid spillage than others.

This inkwell is smaller than the standard size De La Rue Casket by approximately 1/4 inch all round. The standard sized Casket can be seen in our Archive section under Desk Items or simply search De La Rue in the box above. Circa 1900.