Antique 1850-70s French Tortoise Shell Aide d'Memoire Necessaire, Card Case - Tortoiseshell soup plates bodies & bases) bear the

bodies & bases) bear the French Minerve or Minerva hallmark

The period very heavily cast and sculpted bronze frame is not permanently attached

The pillow form inside is feather and down

very attractive

These are more and more rare to find

Antique 1850-70s French Tortoise Shell Aide d'Memoire Necessaire, Card Case - Tortoiseshell soup plates bodies & bases) bear theThe gold edged original notepad remains inside the rich Royal purple moire silk covers and interor, and the shell front and back panels are excellent but the necessaire does have a flaw or two to keep it from being pristine, or expensive. While the nap on the silk velvet spine is no longer there, exposing the original if denuded and faded silk velvet spine as less than it was in its origin, and also the 3 loops of moire silk that would have formed a