Rare Eley Brothers Display of Eight Percussion Cap Containers
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Rare Eley Brothers Display of Eight Percussion Cap Containers – This japanned tin box contains eight original Eley Brothers, percussion cap tins, displayed in separate compartments. The exterior of the box has a black painted /japanned finish; all of the percussion cap tins are 100 count, with all remaining partially full. Two of the tins have embossed, stamped gilt foil on their lids; the remaining six tins have paper labels. Five of these paper labeled tins also have a small paper labeled number, affixed to the lid, and are numbered either “3,4,6, 7” and “8”. The inside of the lid of the container has a paper label affixed that reads “ELEY BROTHERS Limited, / Manufacturers of Sporting and Military Ammunition / LIST OF PRICES TO THE TRADE ONLY / PERCUSSION CAPS.”, followed by a list, numbered 1 through 8, that describes the various caps; the five tins that have numbers match the corresponding number on the lid label. Above the Eley label, on the inner lid, is the date “March, 1878”. The container is in overall very good condition, with some minor areas of paint loss and a few very small dents. The foil is beginning to separate on one of the tins, otherwise all are in good condition, with labels intact and, as noted above, all partially full. This container and the complete set of Eley percussion cap tins within it, is the only example we have encountered; it was manufactured by the premier 19th century maker and purveyor of percussion caps.
Measurements of the Tin Container: L – Approx. 7”; W – 3.75”; H – 1”