After a wet and blustery walk on the moor on Saturday, we stopped off for a mooch around the flag-festooned town of Moretonhampstead (I love the flag with the teacups!). We popped into some lovely antiques and interior shops, and also a charity shop, where I spotted this little thing in the ‘£2 unless marked otherwise’ cabinet:
It’s a leather (I’m presuming Victorian?) calling card case, and although a bit tatty (and unfortunately not ‘marked otherwise’), I thought it was sweet and bought it, with an intended purpose in mind.
Originally, such cases were used to hold calling, or visiting, cards. Here is how they were used:
Calling cards were left at each person’s home the individual went to visit, whether they were home or not. The person visiting would typically either leave their card in a “card receiver” which was set on an entry table in the foyer or on a parlor table or leave the card with a servant so that the homeowner would know they stopped by. A married woman would leave her and her husband’s card at each visit.
I love the inscription on my case: ‘If unable to call, please write’, and wonder did the owner’s calling cards display the same message?
I’ve seen similar cases which also have a section to hold postage stamps, and this is what I had in mind for mine. I always have a book of stamps in my bag or purse, but they are not very pretty things are they? So with a little trimming down, a Royal Mail book of stamps fits perfectly into this case.
I’ll love seeing this in my purse, and it will be a nice reminder to myself to write to those I can’t call on.
Linking up with Me and My Shadow’s Magpie Monday – please click on the badge below to be taken there and see what other treasures have been found this week:
Oh this is the most beautiful and wonderful item I’ve seen in aaaaaages!
I adore it, what a fabulous memento of a bygone era. Nowadays it would say ‘PM me’.
Love it Molly. Write me, write me!!
Liz Burton recently posted…
I might just do that Liz x
*sleeps by letterbox*
Liz Burton recently posted…
Twitter:
on April 29, 2014 at 10:41 am
Thanks for visiting my blog. This looks a lovely find
Yet Another Blogging Mummy!!! recently posted…Belo & Me Lunch Bag review and giveaway
Twitter:
on April 30, 2014 at 9:25 am
Oh its so brilliant, no wonder you bought it. £2 for all of that history. Love it M!
Amanda recently posted…En-suite Makeover (picture heavy post)
oh i love it…very cute and very you!
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Twitter:
on May 2, 2014 at 5:52 pm
Oh I love it Moll – what a find!? I like the way it has a modern relevancy now as in call on the phone as well as call in person too. One for a lady of letters like you xx