World War Two Era Portfolio and Portable Desk, with Embossed Imagery of Bald Eagle, War Planes, a Warship, a Blimp, a Tank and and a Cannon

Chicago: Durand, 1942. Full Leatherette (Like Calf). Very Good. Distinctive and unique portfolio with military and patriotic themed embossed decoration on the calf front board. We haven't been able to locate other copies of this object, although there surely were others made. The embossed decoration of the eagle and military vehicles and weaponry is not only embossed but also colored a light blue/gray, with a few yellow highlights, to contrast with the navy background and overall color of the calf used. The border, forming a frame around the six vignette illustrations, has blindstamped ruling, and within the indented lines there is embossed linear decoration of swiggles and stars that also is colored yellow/gold. The inside front cover has two vertical pockets to secure papers, and the facing inside rear cover has a felt surface of a writing desk, this held down by corner triangles. The portfolio measures 29 by 23.5 cm, roughly. We don't have an exact date that this was made, but it is a good bet that it was made during the Second World War and thus the early to mid 1940s. We haven't able to find out concrete information about Durand, the maker, but we see that they made other things such as jewelry boxes with this kind of cheap leather or leatherette. Also, they were active in the 1930s, as far as we can tell. Its spine, where the joints would be in a book, are considerably rubbed, as are the extremities. The interior has some grittiness to its leather, which we believe can be mostly polished away.