Reading and Writing
Tunbridge Ware for Reading and Writing
Literacy amongst the British public advanced dramatically during the Victorian age in tandem with the new postal system as did the sale of portable writing slopes alongside writing accessories and reading materials
Introduced by Rowland Hill in 1840 with the now prepaid low cost ‘Penny Post’ alternative saw the number of letters sent the UK double in the first year and doubled yet again within a decade. Prior to 1840 those receiving mail had been responsible for payment.
The makers of Tunbridge Ware capitalised upon the growing demand not only writing slopes, sometimes referred to as desk boxes, but also other essentials for both the home office including paper knives, stamp boxes , inkstands, desk thermometers, blotters pen trays and much more
Makers of desk lamps were also to benefit from an age that at its peak by 1889 was able to offer twelve posts a day in London. This enabled those in receipt of the first post of the day at 7.30am to send a reply and receive a response from the initial sender that same evening by 7.30pm. Currently "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" rarely receives the single daily post on time.
People also read far more extensively than they do today. This also caught the attention of the manufactories of Tunbridge Wells who produced reading stands, book ends, book marks, page turners and more in Tunbridge ware.
Tunbridge Ware - A Very Fine Large Robert Vorley Stationery Document Box 1978
Tunbridge Ware - A very Large Robert Vorley Stationery/Document Box 1978
£950.00
A Tunbridge Ware Writing Stand with Floral Mosaic Bands c1880
A Tunbridge Ware Writing Stand with Floral Mosaic Bands
£325.00
An Early Tunbridge Ware Open-Topped Swing-Handle Basket with van Dyke Border c1840
An Early Tunbridge Ware Open-Topped Swing-Handle Basket with van Dyke Border c1840
£345.00
Tunbridge Ware - A Book Rest Featuring Two Different Floral Mosaics - c1850
Tunbridge Ware Book Rest
£285.00
Tunbridge Ware Book-slide with Two Floral Mosaics c1850
Tunbridge Ware Book-slide with Two Floral Mosaics c1850
£175.00
Tunbridge Ware - An Early Writing Slope with Geometric Designs c1835
An Early Tunbridge Ware Writing Slope with Geometric Designs
£450.00
A Large Tunbridge Ware Bookslide with Hever Castle and Floral Mosaics c1850
A Large Tunbridge Ware Bookslide with Hever Castle and Floral Mosaics c1850
£245.00
Tunbridge Ware Circular Pen and Ink Well Stand c1925
Tunbridge Ware Circular Pen and Ink Well Stand c1925
£115.00
Tunbridge Ware Stationery Box with Isometric Cubes and Floral Mosaic c1870
Tunbridge Ware Stationery Box with Isometric Cubes and Floral Mosaic c1870
£385.00
A Fine Leather Bound Tunbridge Ware Blotter Book c1855
A Fine Leather Bound Tunbridge Ware Blotter Book c1855
£425.00
Tunbridge Ware Wedge Shaped Stationery Box c1860
Tunbridge Ware Wedge Shaped Stationery Box c1860
£475.00
A Tunbridge Ware Stationery Box With Floral Berlin Wool-work Mosaic and Perspective Cubes c1850
Tunbridge Ware Stationery Box, Berlin Wool-work Mosaic, Perspective Cubes
£480.00
Tunbridge Ware Stationery Box c1870
A superb Tunbridge Ware three division stationery box. Mosaic spray of flowers on a domed lid with floral and foliate border. Floral band around the box. Decorative paper lining
£460.00
Tunbridge Ware Stationery Box Hever Castle c1870
A fine Tunbridge Ware stationery box depicting Hever castle. Hever was home for the cause of the English Reformation whose charms were such that Henry VIII made Anne Boleyn wife number two. Having been found guilty of witchcraft, plotting to kill the king
£800.00