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This is a Victorian-era traveling pocket inkwell designed in the shape of a miniature steamer trunk or suitcase.
Leather suitcase inkwells originated in Germany, specifically during a period of industrial or military expansion.
The trunk features structural ridges or runners on the lid, mimicking a larger slatted transport crate.
The top lid features the custom initials J. Z., “1891”, London stamped directly into the surface along with the German text “ nicht sturzen- must be kept upright in 3 places.
This beautiful inkwell features dual brass-capped ink reservoirs and a central built-in pen-wipe brush housed inside a portable metal and leather-trimmed case designed for writing on the go. It is a fascinating inkwell, with the appropriate wear for an item 135 years old. It would definitely be a prize in any collection.