[Faux Book] The Traveller

England, 1850. Full Morocco. Brass Clasp. Full Calf Outer Case. Fine/Near Fine (the case, not the jacket). Wonderful Victorian, and probably mid-Victorian, traveller's kit made to look like a distinguished book -- one with gilt and blindstamped decoration on its board borders and spine, which also has four raised bands. Resembling an octavo book. Measuring 17.5 by 12 cm, and 4.5 cm thick. Outer case: 18.5 by 13 by 5 cm. The gilt decoration is quintessential and we would say, on the slightly more elaborate end of things. The faux book is sealed tightly with a brass clasp on its side. The edges are a light brown leather pastedown -- a again, of morocco -- their color contrasting with the dark green morocco of the casing, and suggestive of the sides of a text block. The interior of the box, for that is in essence what "The Traveller" is, is lined in a green velvet and has a pull-out tray lined with both green morocco and green velvet. The tray, which can be pulled out with a fabric pull, or more easily by pinching its inner walls and pulling up, is fitted for a scissor, perhaps tweezers, perhaps pens, as is the well below. Ours is lacking all the implements, not surprisingly. One could retrofit the box interior to suit one's needs, of course, or locate period correct implements, or for that matter, more modern ones that fit, without enormous difficulty, we believe. Making this particular faux box special, and the reason it is in such a well-preserved state, is we have the original full leather case, which has a leather strap clasp, and the whole case resembles one used for binoculars. The case has a few stains and other wear, but it too is overall very well preserved and is a handsome complement to the underlying item. "The Traveller" itself has a few minor scratches and rubbing on its edges and touches of wear, perhaps, but we would regard it as in Fine, or Near Fine, Condition.