4 Beautiful Victorian Entomologist Book Boxes. Circa 1880. Collectors Specimen Cabinets.

Name: 4 Beautiful Victorian Entomologist Book Boxes. Circa 1880. Collectors Specimen Cabinets.
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA491210
Availability: SoldOut

19th century

Sold by Atropos Antiques

Description

FOUR BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN ENTOMOLOGISTS 'BOOK BOXES' TWO OF WHICH BELONGED TO THE FAMOUS ENTOMOLOGIST, COMMANDER J.J.WALKER WHO DIED IN 1939 AGED 87. A PICTURE OF A PAMPHLET ISSUED TO COMMEMORATE COMMANDER WALKER IS INCLUDED IN MY ACCOMPANYING PICTURE SET.

THESE BOXES WERE FAVOURED BY NATURAL HISTORIANS FOR THE STORAGE AND DISPLAY OF THEIR SPECIMENS AND COULD BE LINED ON SHELVES JUST AS A SERIES OF BOOKS WOULD BE. IT IS THOUGHT THAT IN EARLY DAYS THE STUDY OF ENTOMOLOGY WAS CONSIDERED ECCENTRIC AND THAT THESE CASES COULD DISGUISE THE PURSUIT OF THE COLLECTOR.

THEY ARE WELL MADE AND THE WOODEN CASE IS CLAD IN A SHAGREEN-LIKE FABRIC COATING IN A SUBTLE GREEN. THE BOX OPENS REVEALING TWO AREAS, BASE AND TOP WHICH ARE LINED WITH CORK TO RECEIVE PINS AND THEN PAPERED THROUGHOUT. THESE ARE IN ORIGINAL CONDITION AND HAVE VERY MUCH 'THE LOOK'! THESE BOXES WERE SUPPLIED BY MOST OF THE FAMOUS DEALERS, WATKINS AND DONCASTER, JANSEN, CROCKETT et al.

THESE CASES ARE IN LIMITED NUMBERS NOW AND WILL LEND THEMSELVES TO MANY COLLECTING AND DISPLAY PURPOSES. IN ADDITION, AS PERIOD 'DECORATOR' PIECES THEY ARE INVALUABLE.

AVERAGE SIZE, 13 INCHES BY 11 INCHES BY 3 AND THREE EIGHTHS INCHES.

INCIDENTALLY, OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO ENTOMOLOGICAL HISTORIANS, ONE BOX IS LABELLED 'JAMES HOW SUCCESOR TO GEORGE KNIGHT AND SONS 2 FOSTER LANE LONDON.' THIS IS A VERY RARE LABEL AND LITTLE IS KNOWN OF THIS NATURAL HISTORY SUPPLIER.

Physical Dimensions

Height

33cm (12.99")

Width

28cm (11.02")

Depth

8cm (3.15")

Declaration

Atropos Antiques has dated this piece to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA491210

Dealers Internal Reference

GM/JJW/OH

Dealers Notes

georgemorgan90@gmail.com

Description

FOUR BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN ENTOMOLOGISTS 'BOOK BOXES' TWO OF WHICH BELONGED TO THE FAMOUS ENTOMOLOGIST, COMMANDER J.J.WALKER WHO DIED IN 1939 AGED 87.

“

A PICTURE OF A PAMPHLET ISSUED TO COMMEMORATE COMMANDER WALKER IS INCLUDED IN MY ACCOMPANYING PICTURE SET.

Atropos Antiques

fig 1. 4 BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN ENTOMOLOGIST BOOK BOXES. CIRCA 1880. COLLECTORS SPECIMEN CABINETS. — fig 1. 4 Beautiful Victorian Entomologist Book Boxes. Circa 1880. Collectors Specimen Cabinets.

THESE BOXES WERE FAVOURED BY NATURAL HISTORIANS FOR THE STORAGE AND DISPLAY OF THEIR SPECIMENS AND COULD BE LINED ON SHELVES JUST AS A SERIES OF BOOKS WOULD BE. IT IS THOUGHT THAT IN EARLY DAYS THE STUDY OF ENTOMOLOGY WAS CONSIDERED ECCENTRIC AND THAT THESE CASES COULD DISGUISE THE PURSUIT OF THE COLLECTOR.

fig 2. 4 BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN ENTOMOLOGIST BOOK BOXES. CIRCA 1880. COLLECTORS SPECIMEN CABINETS. — fig 2. 4 Beautiful Victorian Entomologist Book Boxes. Circa 1880. Collectors Specimen Cabinets.

THEY ARE WELL MADE AND THE WOODEN CASE IS CLAD IN A SHAGREEN-LIKE FABRIC COATING IN A SUBTLE GREEN. THE BOX OPENS REVEALING TWO AREAS, BASE AND TOP WHICH ARE LINED WITH CORK TO RECEIVE PINS AND THEN PAPERED THROUGHOUT. THESE ARE IN ORIGINAL CONDITION AND HAVE VERY MUCH 'THE LOOK'! THESE BOXES WERE SUPPLIED BY MOST OF THE FAMOUS DEALERS, WATKINS AND DONCASTER, JANSEN, CROCKETT et al.

fig 3. 4 BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN ENTOMOLOGIST BOOK BOXES. CIRCA 1880. COLLECTORS SPECIMEN CABINETS. — fig 3. 4 Beautiful Victorian Entomologist Book Boxes. Circa 1880. Collectors Specimen Cabinets.

THESE CASES ARE IN LIMITED NUMBERS NOW AND WILL LEND THEMSELVES TO MANY COLLECTING AND DISPLAY PURPOSES. IN ADDITION, AS PERIOD 'DECORATOR' PIECES THEY ARE INVALUABLE.

AVERAGE SIZE, 13 INCHES BY 11 INCHES BY 3 AND THREE EIGHTHS INCHES.

fig 4. 4 BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN ENTOMOLOGIST BOOK BOXES. CIRCA 1880. COLLECTORS SPECIMEN CABINETS. — fig 4. 4 Beautiful Victorian Entomologist Book Boxes. Circa 1880. Collectors Specimen Cabinets.

INCIDENTALLY, OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO ENTOMOLOGICAL HISTORIANS, ONE BOX IS LABELLED 'JAMES HOW SUCCESOR TO GEORGE KNIGHT AND SONS 2 FOSTER LANE LONDON.' THIS IS A VERY RARE LABEL AND LITTLE IS KNOWN OF THIS NATURAL HISTORY SUPPLIER.