Historical information

This unique postage stamp container, fashioned as a postal letter is from an era 1800 to early 1900, when items with no real bravado of wealth, were produced to satisfy the basic needs of their owners. A small yet "simple" postage stamp container made from silver would stand out but yet not that "vulgar". This was a period that flouting wealth was not done. This attitude changed when "old" wealth of property and titles moved to industrial and merchant "new" wealth merged.

Significance

This item was introduced to the Kiewa Valley by a "genteel" woman who had come from "old" wealth in the "mother" country. In rural Australia such flashing of wealth or even "one up man ship" is frowned upon. The Kiewa Valley residents, in this time frame, would have reacted in a "true blue" manner. The significance of this item is that it highlights a time when the "Australian" heart was closely aligned to "mother Great Britain". These national bindings and self identity were only to last until World War II. The realisation of untying the national umbilical chord between Great Britain and Australia came when the United States of America provided its support and a closer bond developed.

Physical description

This container for postal stamps is fashioned as a letter. The lid(flap) is hinged to the main letter frame, allowing access to the contents (stamps). It is made of thin silver (sterling) with the silver markings on the inside of the flap. The folds on the opening flap side mirror the early dated letter envelope (glued on two sides, folded and glued on the third). The markings on the inside, clearly visible when the flap is open has the Assay Office Birmingham "anchor" stamped before the sterling silver "lion" mark.

Inscriptions & markings

Stamped on inside flap "92" and "M" .Inside the letter facing the opener is the "Anchor" symbol and next to that the "Lion" symbol