Full Morocco Card Case with Blindstamped and Painted Floral Decoration

Full Morocco. Good. N.d., circa mid-19th century. Measuring 10 by 7.5 by 1 1/8 cm, this is a classic card case with two narrow compartments plus tiny pen holder revealed when the top lid is pulled off. One narrow compartment contains a stiff card of an ivory or ivory-like material which was used for erasable pencil notes. Both sides of it are filled with what appear to be very old shopping lists. No pen remains. The decoration on the leather is an ornate Rococo design of leaf shapes, flower shoots, a basket and rope drops. The same design appears on both sides. The spine has a more Renaissance Revival design. The color of the ornamentation is faded, but it still reads as being a colorful contrast to the dark leather and balances out the gilt. Heavy wear and rubbing to the leather along the edges and extremities. Still, though, a handsome case.