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Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos
Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos

Antique French Leather Faux-Book Photograph Box – 19th Century Victorian CDV Storage Case with 22 Antique Photos

$118.00
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Discover a captivating piece of 19th-century photographic history. This exquisite antique photograph storage box is meticulously crafted to resemble a luxurious, leather-bound book spine. Sourced in France, this stunning piece of maroquinerie (fine leather goods) dates from the 1860s to the 1880s, a period when the global obsession with Cartes de Visite (CDV) and early photography was at its peak.

Crafted with dark, textured genuine leather, the spine features intricate gold-leaf embossed borders, delicate classical filigree stamping, and the word "PHOTOGRAPHS" boldly gilded across the center panel. Designed to sit discreetly on a gentleman’s library shelf or a parlor side table, this hidden storage box opens up to reveal a treasure trove of the past. 

An Instant Collection Included:
This historic box comes complete with 22 antique male photographs. A standard Victorian family album usually contains a mix of women, children, infants, and couples. An exclusively male collection is highly uncommon and points to a few specific, sought-after historical possibilities. This count also indicates it was originally a standard 24-card collector's box, meaning it remains remarkably complete after nearly 150 years.
  • Condition: Beautiful antique condition. The leather shows a gorgeous, authentic patina with minor shelf wear to the edges and corners consistent with age. Gilt work remains bright and highly visible.
  • Era: Victorian / Napoleon III (circa 1860–1880)
  • Origin: Found in France (Crafted for the luxury export market)
  • Measures 4.5" x 3" x 2.25"
Perfect for collectors of early photography, lovers of bibliostyle decor, or anyone looking to add a touch of dark academia charm to their space.

These male portraits are phenomenal. While the storage box was found in France, the photographs themselves are high-end 19th-century British Cartes de Visite (CDVs). Every single photographer clearly stamped on the front of these cards operated prestigious studios across England during the mid-Victorian era. Here are a few 
Studio & Dating Breakdown
  • Elliott & Fry (55 Baker St., London): This is a premier name in Victorian portraiture. They operated out of 55 Baker Street between 1863 and 1886. They photographed the era's elite, including aristocracy and literary figures like John Ruskin. 
  • W. E. Debenham (Haverstock Hill, London): William Elliott Debenham was a famous high-society London photographer active in the late 19th century. His "Massingham House, Haverstock Hill" imprint dates this specific card to the 1870s–1880s.
  • Brown & Wheeler (Wilton House, West Cowes): Based on the Isle of Wight, this partnership was highly active between 1865 and 1880. Because Queen Victoria frequented her vacation home (Osborne House) on the Isle of Wight, studios here commonly photographed visiting naval officers, yachting club elites, and gentry. 
  • W. S. Bradshaw & Sons (Hastings & 103 Newgate St., London): William Stephen Bradshaw began his independent London studio on Newgate Street in 1876. The inclusion of both the London and Hastings branch text narrows this card down precisely to the late 1880s.
Please email me with questions.