In the 19th century and early 20th century travel was by carriage, train or sea. Particularly in the 19th century, people's clothing was quite bulky, especially for ladies, as they would wear several layers of elaborate clothing and so suitcases and trunks needed to be quite large. The majority of these cases would be leather, and the more expensive the case, the heavier it would be. Large trunks were made from metal and wood, often covered in canvas with wooden struts to protect them. Up until the second quarter of the 20th century, all people of society were expected to wear hats, so additional hat boxes were needed for their transportation. To leave home for any length of time required an extensive array of luggage, and often staff to carry it.
 
This is a wonderful quality lady's fitted travelling case in green leather. The inside is fitted with everything a lady of society could need for her travels.   It was made by the famous Mappin and Webb Silversmiths, renounded for there quality workmanship. The gilded brass fastener is marked Mappin and Web, as also is the edge of the leather case.  Every piece in the case has an italic crest ingraved into either the silver or the Ivory, the case itself has the letters "ADT in Gilt on the front side and a small leather pocket . This would have been the property of a wealthy lady.
 
 
The contents comprise of :
7 silver topped jars of a floral repousse design, each one fully hallmarked in London in 1896. 
A pair of silver backed hair brushes, hallmarked 1896
3 silver backed clothes brushes, hallmarked 1896
A leather pouch with comb
A folding leather wallet holding 7 ivory handled tools; a stilleto, a corkscrew, tweezers, buttonhook, bradall and a letterknife.
A leather wallet for sewingthreads and pins
A small leather coin purse
A leather visiting card case
And leather notebook marked letters recieved and letters sent.
The lid of the case also holds a paper knife, a pair of ivory handled curling irons, and a pair of ivory glove stretchers.
 
The leather case does have some wear to the edges of the leather, but has no loss to the stitching or breaks to the leather. The silver topped jars are in very good condition, there are no holes or breaks to the silver work. The leather covered pieces inside the case are in good order
 
Dimensions when closed: 40cm wide x 25cm deep x 30 cm high.