Antique French 18k Gold Vernis Martin Billet Doux, 1700s Love Note Etui, Case
The 1" diameter and 4"+ long tube you see is something very special. In France, it was known as a "Billet doux", or "sweet note", quite literally. And it would have contained those sweet notes passed between lovers, friends, from the 1700s through about 1820. One would write a love letter, or message to set a meeting, roll it and put inside the container you see. Then a trusted servant or courier would be dispatched to deliver the correspondence and likely, to await a response. Such a romantic notion and history, and these are more and more rare. We mostly see them in museums at this point, though because they are a particular favorite of mine, we own a fine museum collection of them and offer many to you, our customer. If you're proposing to your love, why not do it in the old tradition of romance; a billet doux. Sweet note correspondence etui is all original, including that 18k gold band around the center and both ends (one center band missing). Photo show it all very well for your i