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cindy_socal

1898 Perfume box

cindy_socal
9 years ago

hello - I have a paper lidded box that appears to have held perfumes from the Crown Perfumery Company, London. It is curved and approx 7x5x2", and is covered in ivory, dark green, gold paper with scrolls, flowers, and a portrait of Marie Antoinette on the top. Below the portrait it says "BOUQUET-VERSAILLES, SOUVENIR DE MARIE-ANTOINETTE, CROWN PERFUMERY CO, LONDON,"

On the bottom, there are three Internal Revenue stamps: a purple one for 4 cents, a red for 5 cents, and an orange for 3/8 cent. All stamps have battleships, and say "proprietary" on the lower edge. Each stamp is then "rubber" stamped "Crown Perfumery Co, London, Dec 16, 1898." Evidently the government raised funds for the Spanish-American War by taxing luxury items.

I cannot find anything similar on the internet and would appreciate knowing its value or origins. Thank you so much.