R & M Pell's 1841 Wallpapered Draughts Box from the Duke of Grafton rustic utensils early 20th century I would

early 20th century I would think

There is a figural medallion commemorating the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909 held in the collection of the Smithsonian that is very similar in manner

With its stark lines and textured

with the red cheeks

but it was easy to discover that the RML incised into the underside stands for Richard M Lincoln (1929-2009)

R & M Pell's 1841 Wallpapered Draughts Box from the Duke of Grafton rustic utensils early 20th century I wouldYou know I love beautiful handwriting, and old wooden boxes, and antique draughts (checkers) too, so of course I fell for this one, which appears to have been a gift from the Duke of Grafton (in the southeast of Northhamptinshire, England) to an R & M Pell in 1841. There appears to be a hand written note to the Pells on the blue papered top, perhaps from the Duke himself, who one imagines sent these along as a gift, and in which the word "friend" is