R & M Pell's 1841 Wallpapered Draughts Box from the Duke of Grafton rustic utensils and I think some pencil

and I think some pencil too

There is a figural medallion commemorating the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909 held in the collection of the Smithsonian that is very similar in manner

Even if one never puts it to use

There is old glue holding her broken pieces in place and a chip to the corner of her base but she seems stable and in it for the long haul

R & M Pell's 1841 Wallpapered Draughts Box from the Duke of Grafton rustic utensils and I think some pencilYou know I love beautiful handwriting, and old wooden boxes, and antique draughts (checkers) too, so of course I fell for this one, which appears to have been a gift from the Duke of Grafton (in the southeast of Northhamptinshire, England) to an R & M Pell in 1841. There appears to be a hand written note to the Pells on the blue papered top, perhaps from the Duke himself, who one imagines sent these along as a gift, and in which the word "friend" is