Can I polish a brass letter rack?

You can, but it depends on the original finish. Late Victorian brass was often lacquered to prevent tarnishing. If that lacquer is still intact, metal polish will scratch it up and make a mess. Test a small area on the back first. If the cloth turns black, the brass is unlacquered and you can polish it. If not, just wipe it with a damp cloth.

How do you clean dusty fretwork?

Use a soft, dry artist's paintbrush to get into the tight corners. Cloths tend to snag on the delicate pierced wood and can easily snap a fragile section of an antique letter rack. If the dirt is stubborn, slightly dampen a cotton swab. Roll it gently over the grime, but do not soak the timber.

My grandmother left me a wooden desk tidy with dividers, but the slots seem too narrow for standard envelopes. What was it for?

Victorian envelopes were much smaller than modern standard sizes. Paper was cut to different dimensions, and a brief note folded in half required a very small envelope. It might also be a calling card rack. These look identical to letter racks but are scaled down to hold thick pasteboard visiting cards. They sat in the hallway rather than on the study desk.

I found a heavy brass rack with three slots at a boot sale. How do I get the green crusty bits out of the corners?

That green crust is verdigris. It forms when copper in the brass reacts with moisture over a long period. Loosen it with a wooden toothpick. Metal tools will scratch the brass, so stick to wood or stiff nylon bristles.

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Antique Letter Rack

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Designed to organise daily correspondence, an antique letter rack is a tiered desk accessory featuring graduated slots or compartments to hold papers upright and visible.