A 19th century alphabet box with an inlaid bone tile with ABC inset on to the chamfered lid.There are approx 110 single sided bone alphabet tiles inside. On the base of the box is an old trade label William Whiteley , Westbourne Grove London.William Whiteley was born on 29th September 1831 in the small village of Agbrigg between Pontefract and Wakefield in Yorkshire, the youngest of four sons. His father was a successful corn merchant. William left the local school at fourteen and spent two years working on his uncle''s farm. In 1848 he started a seven years apprenticeship as a draper''s assistant with Harnew and Glover in Wakefield but it was his first visit to London in 1851 to see the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace which changed his life. William was inspired by the vast displays to have a shop where everything could be available under one roof. Four years later he arrived in London to pursue his dream.William determined to learn as much as he could about the retai...