Antique English Oak Answered and Unanswered Letter Box, Circa 1900
Antique English Oak Answered and Unanswered Letter Box, Circa 1900
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I found this English oak correspondence box on a sourcing trip and it is a form I always look for. Two slots in the lid, each fitted with an engraved brass plaque reading Answered and Unanswered, were used to sort daily mail in late Victorian and Edwardian households. Letters waiting for a reply went in one slot, letters already answered went in the other, and a servant or secretary cleared the box on a schedule. The exposed dovetailed corners and quartered oak construction are honest and well made.
This letter box is in good antique condition with honest wear from more than a century of use. The quartered oak retains a warm stained and polished finish across the exterior with light surface marks, minor scratches, and small dings consistent with age. The two engraved brass plaques are intact and securely fastened, with patina and legible lettering. The two brass hinges are stable and the lid opens and closes properly. The lock mechanism is present on the front of the box and the bolt moves freely, but no key is included. The interior shows age-appropriate darkening and minor wear with no structural issues. The underside originally had a paper or leather covering which has worn away across most of the surface, exposing the wood beneath. The case structure is sound throughout.
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All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.
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Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.
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