This writing and grooming case was made by De la Rue in 1853 and includes unused stationary and early machine folded envelopes.
Includes Indelible Diary 1854 and watermarks on the paper show it was produced by Joynson in 1853. The case is in excellent condition for its age of 165 years old. It comes with its original packaging which shows the style of case as 'Russia'. The set includes an unused De La Rue's Indelible Diary for 1854 with only a name written in it.
There is also an unused notebook, letter paper and envelopes of different sizes. All the pages including the notebook and the envelopes have De La Rue embossed on them in the corner. The small pages have a watermark on them spread throughout the pages with the words "Joynson Improved Extra 1853" and a picture of a mill. The large pages have a large crest with a "J" underneath and the words "Joynson 1853" spread throughout.
There are unused matches in their box and a striker next to it. The ink jar folds into the space beside the matchbox and is hidden in a box that when closed seals the ink jar from spilling. In the toilette part of the case there is a self standing mirror, a small perfume bottle with glass plug, a nail file and tweezers. Although there are parts missing from this case, the condition of the original materials and diary make it very rare.
Thomas De La Rue started making stationary and printing in 1821 in London and In 1831 he was awarded a Royal Letter Patent by William IV. In 1846 Warren De La Rue invented the envelope folding machine and exhibited it at the Great Exhibition in 1851 so that would make these among the first machine folded envelopes. In 1855 De La Rue began printing postage stamps and in 1860 began printing money. The company still continues security printing for countries today.