Writing case owned by David Scott Mitchell, ca. 1880-1900

R 15

file

ca. 1880-1900

Objects, Coins

431450

Objects - one black wooden box with carved lid and contents, 32 items - H. 10.8 x L 34.3 x W 27.5 cm. or smaller

A box or writing case that contains writing equipment and miscellaneous objects.

WRITING CASE
1a. Writing case, carved wood, lacquered black with hinged lid, keyhole on right-hand side, four circular shaped wooden feet glued to each corner on the base. Inside are 5 compartments, each with a length of brown silk ribbon bolted into the base. The carving is of a Shakespearean inspired scene. A man leans on a book out of a low window and a woman is seated below the window. Buildings and a street are to the right, a vine with dense leaves is situated on the left. H. 10.8 x L 34.3 x W 27.5 cm.
1b. Key, metal, oval shaped handle moulded onto cylindrical shaped stem

CONTENTS -
WRITING EQUIPMENT (Nos. 2-11)
2a. Pen, dark brown bakelite, cylindrical shaped with screw on lid, and three bands of decoration at opposite end. The pen consists of a steel pin or needle. Engraved along side, "'Independent' Pat Sept 26 82 M'E'D U.S.A." L 12.9 cm.
2b. Pen refill, metal cylindrical stem with steel needle inserted at one end. L 5.8 cm
2c. Instruction sheet for "Independent" Stylographic Pen
2d.Box, original box for the "Independent" Pen, cardboard, red in colour with black text and diagram of pen. [The diagram on the box and the instruction sheet does not match the pen (the cap and point cover are missing), however the patent inscription is the same]. H 1.8 x L 13.5 x W 19 cm.
3. Pencil, Victorian, twist mechanism, made of silver, unmarked, cylindrical shaped with diamond and cross-hatch designs along sides, and ivory toggle shaped like a crown at one end. L 10.7cm
4a-c. Pencils, Victorian, twist mechanism, made of silver, unmarked, cylindrical shaped with arrowhead design, and loop at opposite end to lead. Lead pencil is still visible in each. L 9.2 cm.
5. Pencil, Victorian, twist mechanism, silver, unmarked, cylindrical shaped, plain with no decoration on stem, contains lead pencil. L 8.4 cm.
6. Pencil, Victorian, twist mechanism, silver, unmarked, hexagon shaped stem with 3 panels of crosshatch design, and a loop at end opposite to lead. L 7 cm.
7. Pencil, Victorian, twist mechanism, silver, unmarked, cylindrical shaped with diagonal spiral design, and a loop at end opposite to lead. L 7 cm.
8.Stamping seal, silver seal base decorated in leaf design and shaped to emulate a Corinthian column with stone insert engraved with a reversed pattern of two Gothic script letters [F.D. or T.D?], and a polished orange coloured agate handle. L 5.6 cm.
9. Seal, red carnelian stone, oval shaped with carved crest with crown that is held by two mythical creatures [dragons?] and text "Patience / Science / Passe." L 2.9 cm
10. Wax, rectangular shaped, broken end, red in colour. L 5.8 cm.
11. Wax, rectangular shaped, burnt at one end from use, red in colour. L 3.8 cm.

PENKNIVES AND LETTER OPENER (Nos. 12-15)
12. Penknife or pocket knife, with one large blade and one blade with nail file, wood with silver edge and shell inserted into carved flowers and leaves for decoration, engraved on large blade, "A.Cs Supr / Cutlery". Rust is evident. L 8.5 cm.
13. Penknife, wood with silver ends and silver oval inlay on one side, three blades with engraved text, "Superior Cutlery", and one with nail file. L 7.9 cm.
14. Penknife, ivory with silver ends and silver oval inlay on one side, two blades with engraved text, "Superior Cutlery", and one with nail file. L 7.9 cm.
15. Letter opener, bone, blade is stored in handle that has three pins. L 8.3 cm. (folded) 14.3 cm. (unfolded)

PERSONAL EFFECTS - SPECATACLES & MATCH CASE (Nos. 16-18)
16. Folding Pince-Nez spectacles, tortoise shell frame and glass, with metal pin in centre to allow folding. The glass magnifies objects. One eyeglass is missing and the frame to hold this in place is broken. L 10.5 (extended), 5.7 cm. (folded).
17. Lorgnette (hand held spectacles), folding, with gold rim and handle that consists of cylinder with loop at the end, one of the round lenses is hinged and retracts into the base, being stored over lens that is attached to handle. The underside of the nosepiece is engraved, "Mitchell". One of the glasses is chipped. L 13.8 (extended).
18. Match case, silver, rectangular shaped with hinged lid and match striking pad hinged in centre, decorated with diamond/ cross-cross pattern on base, leaf design around sides, and oval design in centre of lid surrounded by diamond pattern for engraving. There is evidence of rust on the pad. H 0.8 x L 4.5 x W 2.3 cm.

MISCELLENEOUS (Nos. 19-21b)
19. Decoration, green sphere [plastic?] with diamond cut glass around centre, gold coloured ball on base, and metal loop with pearl coloured ball on top. H 1.8 cm. x Max Diam 1 cm.
20a-b. Eyedropper, glass tube with point at one end, and cream coloured rubber. The rubber has hardened L 7.9 cm. (glass) 2.8 cm. (rubber)
21a. Pendant frame containing miniatures surrounded by rectangular crystals, made of metal painted gold in colour, oval shaped with triangular shaped edges, and loop affixed to top centre for hanging. One side contains an ivory watercolour miniature of three men, a female, and 3 children (a boy, a girl, and a baby), within blue crystals. The opposite side has watercolour miniature encased in glass with text, "Good Will Towards Men / Peace on Earth", surrounded by the inscription, "Loyal Lodge of Old Fellows / P.G. G. Wilkes June 25 1811" and red crystals. Several crystals are loose and have fallen out. H 9.9 (including loop) x 7.2 cm.
21b. Case, chamois edged in red ribbing around sides and base, pouch shaped with piece in centre sewn into sides to form two compartments. H 14.5 x W 10 cm.

COINS (Nos. 22-24)
22. Coin, silver, one florin two shillings, 1910.
23. Coin, silver, one Shilling, 1910
24. Coin, silver, sixpence, 1910.

DOCUMENTS AND TEXTILES (Nos. 25-28)
25. Label, triangular shaped, with green text, "Salle / de la / Chambre ..."
26a. Ribbon, rectangular shaped, cream with metal pin, printed with design of soldier on horse and two flags and blue text, "Good Bye Boys, / Good Luck./ Souvenir, / January, 1900. / Registered, Watts & Co." L 10.2 cm.
26b. Note accompanying ribbon, "Souvenir / Departure or / Light Horse for / E. Africa"
27. News clipping, with advertisement titled, "Miscellaneous / Drysdale ad Roberts..."
28. Advertisement for "Holloways Pills & Ointmeet. / Sarpy and Musgrave, / (Late John Birrell) / Agents"

PHOTOGRAPHS (Nos. 29-32)
29. Photograph of an unidentified girl, stamp format, H 2.5 x 2 cm.
30. Photograph of an unidentified boy, stamp format, H 2.5 x 1.8 cm
31. Woman holding cat [Rose Scott?], H 4 x 5.4 cm.
32. [Rose Scott], a gem tintype, H 2.5 x 1.9 cm.

This box is visible in photographs of David Scott Mitchell's residence.
It is likely that the coins are a later addition as they are dated 1910 and postdate D.S. Mitchell's death.

A grand obsession : The D. S. Mitchell story - State Library of New South Wales (18 June - 30 September, 2007). Applies to: nos. 16-17
ONE hundred : celebrating the Mitchell Library centenary - State Library of New South Wales (March 2010 - June 2010). Applies to: no. 17