American Historical Ephemera & Photography

7 3/8 x 4 1/2 x 5 5/8 in. (overall) model comprised of a wooden box, reinforced by iron strapping around bottom edges, which opens to reveal desk shelves and slots for paper storage that can be removed and secured into the interior of the open box lid to form the upper portion of a desk (several pieces missing including wooden pieces purposed to form a writing surface and other fittings and fasteners; surface wear and some chipping to wood). Original cloth tags (discoloration, fading, and some separation and fraying in certain areas) number this patent 260,051, bear a printed diagram and description of the invention (portions missing), provide the filing (24 October 1881) and issuing (27 June 1882) dates of the patent, and identify James A. Rigby as the filer of the patent. 

Included are two postcards from the 1970s announcing an upcoming sale of original patent models from the Collection of Mr. & Mrs. O. Rundle Gilbert by the Original United States Patent Model Inventions.