Rectangular chest-like tooled-leather trunk with canvas and leather cover, leather handles on sides, bowed lid, various places of travel 'H.S.W./Lancaster, PA.' on right side of canvas cover, 'H.S.W.' on left. Castered. brass hardware. Inside: red, black
Large trunk (a) with two large shelves (b, c) that lift out, and one smaller shelf (d). Exterior of the trunk has brown-striped canvas with three horizontal wood straps on the front, back, and hinged lid. There are wrought iron straps riveted at the corners of the trunk to reinforce the construction. Iron handles, one each side. Two sides covered with shipping labels.
Traveling trunk. Large chest-shaped with metal sheet strips at corners. Studded wooden bands at front, back, and top over canvas-covered wood. Two metal catches on lid, remains of leather strap. Lid is rounded. Exterior has remnants of travel destination stickers and one end cap has Henry Elliot Johnston's initials stenciled 'HEJ'.
Traveling trunk manufactured by J.W. Allen Military Outfitter, 37 Strand, London, England. Low profile oblong trunk with a leather handle on both short ends. Single hinged metal hasp on center apron of the lid locks into flat lock opening at top center of the trunk body. Two partial leather straps that added additional closure to the trunk are extant. Oval brass medallion attached below the lock with J.W. Allen Military Outfitter 37 Strand embossed. H.E.J. Baltimore painted in white stenciling on both ends. White label stating 'Deposit ticket / May 16, 1874 / Henry E. Johnston / 3743' on one end.
Trunk, with brown/black checkerboard canvas covering. Metal band around the trunk attaches lock on front, handles on side and hinges on back. Every metal peg on this band has 'Louis Vuitton' stamped on the head.
The trunk opens from the front to reveal a removable shelf inside. Inside the lid, criss-crossed ribbon allows for storage of delicate/lightweight items slid behind the ribbon.
Provenance
Trunk owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.