Portable Writing Case (2 results)

415 x 295 mm. Limp full calf portfolio, dyed in two shades, with giltstamped floral and ornamental borders and similar border around inset oval centerpiece. Pink moirée silk endpapers. The personal writing case of Archduke Charles, famous for his victory over Napoleon in the Battle of Aspern and as the modernizer of Austrian military organization and administration during his long tenure, from 1801 to 1809, as President of the Council of War. A master binding from the collection of the Austrian art historian and longtime director of Vienna's Albertina collections, Walter Koschatzky (1921-2003), on whose information the attribution is based. - Edges scuffed and split in places; lower spine somewhat rubbed. A charming survival.

Full Morocco. Condition: Very Good. N.d., circa 1880. In size comparable to 8vo. 23 by 18 cm. With a brass clasp, with a floral decorative motif incised onto both the top and base piece. The front, the side with the clasp, has flowing corner decoration in relief, the design suggestive of a fleur-de-lys without being literally one, and gilt and blindstamped ruled lines around the border. When open, there are three panels, all about the size of the outer boards, as well as the closing flap piece, and the opposing end board which is covered with a plain paper. All three of the panels are lined with a white textured paper, and they have red trim along some of their edges. The first flap, on the inside of the back cover, is for implements, with a red cloth to house the items. We have three of the implements, which we assume are original, as they are obviously have significant age to them. These are a bone letter opener or page turner, a leaf shaped knife with a bone handle, and a wooden straight edge, or so we assume it to be. There are also two outer flaps with rounded edges which partially conceal the implements and the rest. Their cloth anchors are attached to a band which one can lift to place and hold underneath loose papers and the like. The adjacent panel is a small accordian or expanding file organizer with three compartments, and these each have printed gilt labels, which designate them for Notes and letters: Lettres a Repondre, Lettres Repondues, and Notes Diverses. The third panel, what we are calling the photo album, has four stiff card leaves that can be lifted, and these have seven windows for one to house photographs, the top card, a single photo, which fits into a window with rounded edges resembling say a cut stone, and the remainder, smaller windows, two per card, oblong rectangles. There are at present no photos in this album. Below the photo album there is a draft of love letter dated 11 3 89, meaning 1889, written in Italian in a neat hand by Neeno or Neero, as well as a dried preserved shoot of leaves. Finally, the flip side of the photo album is a green felt surface bordered by a crimson morocco, but one flatter than the morocco used for the exterior. This is meant to suggest a desk writing surface or blotter. The clasp came with a key, which we do not have. Scattered soiling and wear. Structurally sound, and very attractive as is.