Letter box with slant front, hinged-lid, and multi-compartment interior. Exterior is done in silver, ebony, ivory, and mahogany inlay in a cube and flower design. Interior is wood with circular inlay design with ivory, silver, jade, and red material. Key included.
Brought from Siam in the 1860s by Admiral William Reynolds, brother of General John Fulton Reynolds.
Coarse linen US flag with 34 stars and 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes.
January 1861, Flag of John Roberts, who served in the Revenue Cutter Service which was the forerunner of the Coast Guard. Probably from Virginia or Maryland.
Hand-stitched. Blue panel (27.5" x 25") is made of 3 pieces. White stars are stitched on both sides. On ends, left is bound with white machine-stitching (cahin stitching). Right end (stripes) doubled over and attached with running stitch. Stripes attached with French seams so no raw edges. Top and bottom red edges are selvedges. Top blue edge turned and attached with running stitch.
Green leather-covered box with profile of Samuel Hahnemann in gold on cover. Inside the top cover is a list of 86 medicines contained in the case. Numbered cork tops and corresponding labels on glass vials with medicines (small white balls) are in the case. Nos. 1, 7, 9, 35, 78. are vacant. 79 through 86 are "Tinctures For External Use." Interior paper label reads, "Prepared and sold at the Homeopathic Pharmacy of /William Radde, No. 635 Arch Street, Philadelphia"
Typed card: "Medicine chest/ property of Dr. William/ Shelly of Lititz PA./ through Dr. John Atlee 1938."
There is a key to the case.
Provenance
Dr. William Addison Shelly was born May 15, 1818 and died Jan. 15, 1863.
Large iron box lock from Conestoga Cotton Mill #3 gate. Very long rectangular box has four screw holes for securing to gate and two very small butt hinges attached with screws to back edge. A projecting hollow key escutcheon is riveted to front of box about 5" from one end. Key would be inserted into lock through escutcheon.
In addition, there is an iron latch plate with L-shaped projection mounted onto face of plate, for receiving a lift latch bar. It has five screw holes for mounting on gate.
Depth or thickness is box lock only. Overall thickness including projecting handle holder is 3".
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2014-10-07
Condition Notes
Expected strong weathering, resulting in surface pitting, rust, white paint residue and 3 significant cracks branching out from one screw hole near latch holder. Latch plate is extremely worn with apparent missing sections. L-shaped projection has lost its original surface due to grinding. Interior of box lock also ground away in sections.
A Silver kugel in grape cluster form, silvered interior. Mold-blown glass is well formed. Top has patterned brass cap with wire hanging ring. 6.5" x 4.5"
B Green kugel in grape cluster form, with silvered interior. Mold-blown glass is well formed. Top has patterned brass cap with wire hanging ring. 5 x 3.5"
C Gold kugel with silvered interior, in grape cluster form. Mold-blown glass is well formed. Top has patterned brass cap with wire hanging ring. 5 x 3.25"
D Bag of twisted glass cylinders with tapered ends. One end twisted into a circle for metal hook.
White ribbon bookmark with red and blue stitching around image of George Washington. "The Father of Our Country' arches above. Flags are draped over a canon and sword below with plaque reading: "General /George Washington/ The first in peace,/the first in war,/ the first in the hearts/ of his countrymen."
At bottom of ribbon: T. Stevens, Coventry" (Thomas Stevens, Coventry Bookmark)
Reproduced copies of seals of citizens of Lancaster County, Casts were taken from documents of the Lancaster County Courthouse - deeds, justice of the peace, notary public, personal. Includes Penn's Grant seal.
