R & M Pell's 1841 Wallpapered Draughts Box from the Duke of Grafton rustic utensils glossy surface that turns black

glossy surface that turns black on exposure to air

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

early 20th century I would think

R & M Pell's 1841 Wallpapered Draughts Box from the Duke of Grafton rustic utensils glossy surface that turns blackYou 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