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ID #SA1233247
FOR SALE
£125
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Victorian Country House Correspondence Letter Box
Antique Furniture Direct
for sale €146     $159
£125
Antique Furniture Direct

Antique Furniture Direct

Sellingantiques Verified Since Aug 2013
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Id #SA1233247
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Victorian Country House Correspondence Letter Box

19th century
Description

A wonderful antique mahogany country house correspondence letters box with “Answerd” and “Unaswerd” slots for letters dating from circa 1850. The lid with two slots each labelled with brass plaques engraved with ‘Answerd’ & ‘Unanswerd’, the interior divided and with original brass lock (no key) and mother of pearl escutcheon.

Following Sir Rowland Hill’s reforms of the Post Office in 1840, the cheap and reliable post service lead to an exponential rise in letter writing. It became customary to have a letters box such as this kept in the hallway of a country house, emptied at set intervals by a servant who would then take the letters to the nearest post office for onward delivery.

Construction/Wood:

Mahogany

Condition Report:

Good condition with wear and marks commensurate with age.

Dimensions:

Height: 13cm

Width: 28cm

Depth: 20cm

Internal: 11cm High x 25cm Wide x 17cm Deep

Physical Dimensions
Height
13cm (5.12")
Width
28cm (11.02")
Depth
20cm (7.87")
Declaration

Antique Furniture Direct has dated this Victorian Mahogany Letter Box to the 1850s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1233247
Dealers Notes

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Description
A wonderful antique mahogany country house correspondence letters box with “Answerd” and “Unaswerd” slots for letters dating from circa 1850.
“
The lid with two slots each labelled with brass plaques engraved with ‘Answerd’ & ‘Unanswerd’, the interior divided and with original brass lock (no key) and mother of pearl escutcheon.
Antique Furniture Direct
fig 1. A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front.
fig 1. Victorian Country House Correspondence Letter Box

Following Sir Rowland Hill’s reforms of the Post Office in 1840, the cheap and reliable post service lead to an exponential rise in letter writing. It became customary to have a letters box such as this kept in the hallway of a country house, emptied at set intervals by a servant who would then take the letters to the nearest post office for onward delivery.

Construction/Wood:

Mahogany

Condition Report:

Good condition with wear and marks commensurate with age.

Dimensions:

Height: 13cm

Width: 28cm

Depth: 20cm

Internal: 11cm High x 25cm Wide x 17cm Deep

Height
13cm (5.12")
Width
28cm (11.02")
Depth
20cm (7.87")
Date of Manufacture

Antique Furniture Direct has dated this Victorian Mahogany Letter Box to the 1850s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1233247
Antique Furniture Direct
Antique Furniture Direct
Sellingantiques verified Since Aug 2013
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Antique Furniture Direct Profile Page

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SAVE
A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front.
1 / 13
Archive I A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front.

Victorian Country House Correspondence Letter Box

Archive II A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View II
Archive III A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View III
Archive IV A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View IV
Archive V A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View V
Archive VI A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View VI
Archive VII A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View VII
Archive VIII A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View VIII
Archive IX A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View IX
Archive X A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View X
Archive XI A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View XI
Archive XII A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View XII
Archive XIII A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front. View XIII
Enlarged Archival View
Antique Furniture Direct

Antique Furniture Direct
Telephone 07528 604 958
Location
Leeds
Yorkshire
United Kingdom

By apointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/antiquefurnituredirect
Verified Since Aug 2013
Items For Sale 124
Items Sold 2,976
Antique Furniture Direct
Antique Furniture Direct
Verified Since Aug 2013
View Dealer Info
Location: Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, , By apointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/antiquefurnituredirect
Verified
Aug 2013
For Sale
124
Sold
2,976
A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front.
Victorian Country House Correspondence Letter Box
Ref: SA1233247
A Victorian mahogany letter box featuring two top slots labeled Answerd and Unanswerd with brass plaques and a circular keyhole escutcheon on the front.
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Archival Detail

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FAQs

A Victorian country house correspondence letter box is a tabletop wooden container designed to sort incoming and outgoing post in large private estates during the 19th century. These boxes often featured separate slots for answered and unanswered mail to organise daily communications prior to postal collection.

These letter boxes were typically constructed from fine hardwoods such as mahogany, walnut, or rosewood. They were usually fitted with brass slots, engraved brass plaques, brass hinges, and a lock mechanism surrounded by a bone or mother-of-pearl escutcheon.

Authentic 19th-century letter boxes feature period-correct joinery such as fine dovetail joints, original brass hardware displaying natural oxidisation, and period typography on engraved plaques. Look for original locks, hand-turned escutcheon details, and signs of age-appropriate wear around the mail slots.

Position the letter box on an executive desk, console table, or hallway sideboard to serve as a functional accent for sorting daily mail or documents. Pair it with leather desk accessories, brass task lighting, or framed architectural prints to create a refined study aesthetic.

Keep the timber clean by dusting regularly with a soft dry cloth and applying beeswax polish periodically in the direction of the wood grain. Avoid placing the box near direct heat sources, radiator vents, or intense sunlight to prevent wood shrinkage and cracking.
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