Paris, ca. 1915-1925. Portable red cardboard box (28.0 x 16.9 x 14.3 cm) embossed with maroon reptile-skin patterned paper with gilt title "Papeterie" and vignette, and simple brass lock. Inside covered with decorative green-with-black-cobweb patterned paper.

An unusually well-preserved portable Parisian writing kit which, interestingly, includes a full colour miniature globe on a black wooden pedestal. It was made by "L.N. et K." in Paris, and all names are in French. Antarctica is not represented which suggests a manufacturing date before the end of the 19th century. However, the name Petrograd, for Saint Petersburg, was used between 1914 and 1924 and indicates an early 20th century production date. Other items are: wooden multicoloured penhandles; a metal nib-box, embossed "N. K. Paris", together with lose nibs in a cardboard box with printed text "Blanzy Pouré &Cie, Boulogne sur Mer, dépot à Paris", and the dates 1871-1872; a metal blotter; an ink-bottle with metal cap;p an eraser, and two compartments with blank writing paper and envelopes in several colours. The kit also includes an odd set of 35 colour-printed cards from France, the Netherlands, and some other countries, the majority of which are chocolate box cards and greeting cards from the very early 20th century. Apart from these, and the paper and envelopes, which seems to be "natural" additions, all seem to form one original ensemble. Some slight wear to the box edges and corners, otherwise a rich, attractive item.