The Smythson Secretaire
I have a small (but growing) collection of vintage correspondence kits that I have picked up at estate sales and junk shops. By “correspondence kit” I mean a portable leather or leatherette folder that has pockets for stationery and envelopes, stamps, a pen holder, maybe even an address book and calendar. My interest in them is an outgrowth of my interest in boxes and compartments (see my thesis project) and letter art. I have a half-formed notion that I will use the collection for reference some day when I construct correspondence kits of my own. I know I would be swimming against the tide by doing so — being that handwritten letters as a means of regular correspondence are on the wane — but this is all just background information to show why my most recent ‘net discovery has me giddy. By accident (as these discoveries always are) I have now seen the epitome of a form that I have only barely considered. I give you the The Smythson Secretaire.
The Smythson website calls it “an antique of the future.” I can believe such a thing is worth every penny of $6225 (I insured my own creation for a similar amount, simply to account for my time), but I would never be able to afford it. It includes all of the features above plus a pull-out blotter/writing surface, a place for your ink-pot, “a multitude of drawers,” and “a secret compartment.” (Yes!) If I had such a fabulous thing, I would do nothing but write letters all day (perhaps pausing periodically to check in on the contents of my secret compartment).
I wonder if I could construct a reasonable facsimile out of binder board and book cloth? 