A high quality antique writing slope with many features, detailed below. This example is of a quality that is rarely seen, it is made from solid walnut, heavy and with a quality look and feel to every part of it and also unusually, it is complete. The grain and patination throughout are exceptional. Moving to the interior the first section opens and rests a few degrees from vertical on a bar to the reverse, this reveals a document storage area in the lid with papers being retained by a beautifully carved and pierced retainer; below this we firstly see the pen tray with recess beneath and the two glass and brass topped inkwells each below their own wooden lid flanked by two sloped recesses for stamps, in front of this is a heavy walnut rod acting as a lid for the contents of the recesses below and at the front a beautifully grained flat surface. 
 
The lower section opens out as a leather two part slope lifting to access two recesses below, in one of these is an amount of ephemera, detailed later, and a pull up panel to access two 'secret' drawers. 
 
The key is original and works the lock.
 
The ephemera includes: 
4 pages of The Times dated December 26th 1840 (pages 1,2, 7 & 8). 
A receipt dated 1909 with stamp.
A cheque dated 1884.
A printed note concerning an estate dated 1866.
A notice of fine against a Samuel Elks found drunk 'in a certain highway' dated 1890.
A selection of original press clippings, mainly medical advertisements.
A legal letter dated 1828.
A notice of court hearings dated 1895.
This is a really beautiful and substantial box, an elegant functional item which is decorative too. 
 
The box measures 34.7 x 23.2 x 14.4cm (13.66" x 9.13" x 5.67") w x d x h.
 
There are two cracks on the front face.
 
If you would like further photo's of any particular aspect please ask.