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ID #SA862182
FOR SALE
£2,850
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Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian
For sale by London Fine Antiques
for sale €3,335     $3,620
£2,850
London Fine Antiques

London Fine Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2010
Browse dealers 945 items
  • About Us
    Fine antiques curated in england and sold worldwide
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Id #SA862182
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Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

19th century
Description

This is an antique correspondence box. An English, leather bound sarcophagus cabinet with secret compartment, attributed to Houghton and Gunn of London, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1870.

Quality gentleman's stationery box with fascinating concealed compartment

Displays a desirable aged patina throughout

Leather bound with contrasted crimson over black hues

Pleasingly aged, commensurate with age and use

Sarcophagus top with hidden compartment, accessed by blind push mechanism

Pair of opening doors with working twist latch lock mechanism — untested, key absent

Arranged as a suite of five drawers, two over three of graduated type

Flush drop handles sit within shaped backplates

Dashing recessed carry handles to each side with near oval plates

Stands upon a prominent tapered plinth base

Unmarked as such, but bears strong hallmarks of Houghton & Gunn of London

Renowned for leather goods and boxes, based on Bond Street and later bought out by Asprey in 1906

This is a superb antique correspondence box, with fascinating leather finish and a concealed compartment. Delivered polished and ready to display.

Dimensions:

Max Width: 43.5cm (17.25'')

Max Depth: 30.5cm (12'')

Max Height: 46cm (18'')

Secret Compartment Width: 19.5cm (7.75'')

Secret Compartment Depth: 8.5cm (3.25'')

Secret Compartment Height: 5cm (2'')

Largest Drawer Width: 35cm (13.75'')

Largest Drawer Depth: 20.5cm (8'')

Largest Drawer Height: 9cm (3.5'')

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee with all of our antiques.

We ship worldwide with professional packing and attractive rates – please send us your post / zip code and country for a quote.

Free delivery to most of the U.K. – Please send us your post code for confirmation.

Deliveries taking on average ten working days to arrive at your door from receipt of payment.

Please contact us if you require any further information - we are here to help.

Our Ref: 18.8041

Physical Dimensions
Height
46cm (18.11")
Width
43.5cm (17.13")
Depth
30.5cm (12.01")
Declaration

London Fine Antiques has dated this Antique Leather Correspondence Box to the 1870s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA862182
Dealers Internal Reference
18.8041
Dealers Notes

What our clients have to say: https://www.londonfine.co.uk/pages/reviews

Description
This is an antique correspondence box.
“
An English, leather bound sarcophagus cabinet with secret compartment, attributed to Houghton and Gunn of London, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1870.
London Fine Antiques

Quality gentleman's stationery box with fascinating concealed compartment

fig 1. A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
fig 1. Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

Displays a desirable aged patina throughout

Leather bound with contrasted crimson over black hues

Pleasingly aged, commensurate with age and use

Sarcophagus top with hidden compartment, accessed by blind push mechanism

fig 2. A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
fig 2. Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

Pair of opening doors with working twist latch lock mechanism — untested, key absent

Arranged as a suite of five drawers, two over three of graduated type

Flush drop handles sit within shaped backplates

fig 3. A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
fig 3. Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

Dashing recessed carry handles to each side with near oval plates

Stands upon a prominent tapered plinth base

Unmarked as such, but bears strong hallmarks of Houghton & Gunn of London

Renowned for leather goods and boxes, based on Bond Street and later bought out by Asprey in 1906

fig 4. A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
fig 4. Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

This is a superb antique correspondence box, with fascinating leather finish and a concealed compartment. Delivered polished and ready to display.

Dimensions:

Max Width: 43.5cm (17.25'')

Max Depth: 30.5cm (12'')

fig 5. A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
fig 5. Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

Max Height: 46cm (18'')

Secret Compartment Width: 19.5cm (7.75'')

Secret Compartment Depth: 8.5cm (3.25'')

Secret Compartment Height: 5cm (2'')

Largest Drawer Width: 35cm (13.75'')

Largest Drawer Depth: 20.5cm (8'')

fig 6. A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
fig 6. Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

Largest Drawer Height: 9cm (3.5'')

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee with all of our antiques.

We ship worldwide with professional packing and attractive rates – please send us your post / zip code and country for a quote.

fig 7. A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
fig 7. Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

Free delivery to most of the U.K. – Please send us your post code for confirmation.

Deliveries taking on average ten working days to arrive at your door from receipt of payment.

Please contact us if you require any further information - we are here to help.

Our Ref: 18.8041

Height
46cm (18.11")
Width
43.5cm (17.13")
Depth
30.5cm (12.01")
Date of Manufacture

London Fine Antiques has dated this Antique Leather Correspondence Box to the 1870s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA862182
Dealers Internal Ref
18.8041
London Fine Antiques
London Fine Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2010

Fine antiques curated in england and sold worldwide

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the London Fine Antiques Profile Page

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A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
1 / 10
Archive I A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.

Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian

Archive II A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View II
Archive III A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View III
Archive IV A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View IV
Archive V A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View V
Archive VI A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View VI
Archive VII A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View VII
Archive VIII A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View VIII
Archive IX A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View IX
Archive X A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles. View X
Enlarged Archival View
London Fine Antiques

London Fine Antiques
Telephone 0207 1833511
Location
The Antique Village
Hele
Exeter
Devon
EX5 4PW
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/londonfineantiques
Verified Since Oct 2010
Items For Sale 945
Items Sold 5,649
London Fine Antiques
London Fine Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2010
View Dealer Info
Location: The Antique Village, Hele, Exeter, Devon , EX5 4PW, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/londonfineantiques
Verified
Oct 2010
For Sale
945
Sold
5,649
A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather Cabinet, Houghton & Gunn, Victorian
Ref: SA862182
A Victorian leather-bound correspondence box featuring double doors with red geometric borders and side brass carry handles.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectStationery Boxes
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialLeather, Brass, Wood
  • ColourBlack, Red
  • MotifsRed border tooling, recessed brass handles, stepped roof lid, double door front
  • SizeH 46 cm (18 in) x W 43.5 cm (17 in) x D 30.5 cm (12 in)

This is an antique English correspondence box from the Victorian period, dating to 1870. The piece takes the form of a leather-bound sarcophagus cabinet in a gentleman's library style, constructed from wood, leather and brass. The exterior displays a black finish with contrasted crimson red border tooling on the double doors, a stepped roof lid, and a prominent tapered plinth base, alongside recessed brass carry handles with near-oval plates on the sides and a working twist latch lock mechanism on the front. Visible signs of age include wear to the edges of the stepped roof and surface scuffs across the leather panels. The box measures 46 cm high, 43.5 cm wide, and 30.5 cm deep. Positioned on an office desk or library table, the cabinet functions as a secure stationery box with a hidden compartment accessed by a blind push mechanism within the sarcophagus top. The double doors open to reveal an interior arrangement of five graduated drawers. The tactile leather surfaces and traditional hardware suit a home office, study, or drawing room as a practical desktop storage piece for letters and correspondence.

FAQs

A correspondence box, or stationery cabinet, is a specialised container manufactured during the nineteenth century to store letter-writing materials, documents, and writing implements.

These cabinets typically featured a solid timber frame covered in morocco, russia, or textured cowhide leather, trimmed with brass hardware and lined with silk, velvet, or leather.

Authentic pieces often display maker marks or stamped brass locks from period manufacturers, evidence of hand-tooling, natural leather patination, and period-appropriate brass fittings.

Position the cabinet on an executive desk, console table, or library shelf to serve as a functional organiser for stationery or as a decorative accent piece.

Dust the surface regularly with a soft, dry cloth and apply a specialist leather conditioner periodically while keeping the object away from direct heat sources and sunlight to prevent drying.
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