Victorian Tortoise Shell Card Case, c. 1880

Victorian card case made from tortoise shell veneer with an ivory veneer to the inside edge of the case and red paper liner.

The card case is in very good condition. The locking catch and hinge are in good working order.

Common amongst the aristocracy of Europe during the 18th century, the practice of leaving calling cards became an indispensable tool of etiquette during the Regency and Victorian eras, and a whole convention built up around their use. Along with calling cards came the need for card cases. The earliest examples date from the 1830s. They came in a variety of sizes and materials: silver, ivory, papier mâché and tortoise shell - light, dark, plain, fluted, banded with ivory, silver or pewter.