Lot 58: Ship’s Writing Box

Estimate: $800 – $1,200

Exceptional 19th c. ship captain’s portable table-top desk, brass bound lignum vitae, double fold-out hinged desk top, lined with green felt, and 1/2″ ebony strips, with interior sections for book and papers, red felt top section outlined in gold metal thread, with interior folding leather paper holder, still retains the original hand blown bottles for ink and sander, and an early quill pen, some minor imperfections, inset brass side handles, 9″ h, 20 1/2″ w, 33 3/4″ l (opened up), 12″ d; (Note: includes a small handwritten bill for the Barque Mary Ballard for piloting the ship into the port of New York, (March 8, 1836) “hauling in to the Wharf, 27.50” according to records the Ship Captain was “B.T. Obear” and was returning from Canton China on March 4, 1836.)