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Offered here is an Antique 19th century Beaver Top Hat in its original Leather Hatbox, made in Victorian Philadelphia at the turn of the century. The Hat box is lined inside with a waxy blue pinstriped fabric, preserving this cap quite wonderfully. This fine chapeau was created for a gentleman, an expensive luxury object made of finely treated beaver fur,tightly stretched for a positively shimmering black surface. Can't you see Abe Lincoln in this hat?
Marked inside of the cap with its printed 19th century trademark "Wallace Brothers, Practical Hatters, Trade Mark, 154 N 5th St., PHILAD'A". To the side are the handwritten initials "E L W", presumably its former owner's initials. The Wallace brothers had a haberdashery in what is now considered Old City, Philadelphia, at this time in history. We date this hat at the very least to 1893, as it has a wonderful provenancial Pennsylvania railroad storage room sticker dated 8.11.93. This could have been an opera hat, or a riding hat, its curled sides distinguish it from the similar "stovepipe" hats. It a narrow turned-up brim and a tall cylindrical crown, with a black silk band encircling it. Still possesses a wonderful gleam.This is a wonderful period piece to evidence the grand finery of the time.
Hat case is marked with a dated railroad storage sticker "GBA - FORM 132, P.R.R. CO. - 8.11.93 Broad Street Station Storage Room, 1893. Rec'd-----M Train, Month, Day" P.R.R.Co. stands for Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Inside of the hat is marked "Wallace Brothers, Practical Hatters, Trade Mark, 154 N 5th St., PHILAD'A". Also a handwritten mark reads "E L W", presumably its owner's initials.
Item is in fair antique condition. The leather hat box exterior is very worn with leather missing and flaking thoughout, missing its handle. The bottom interior is in quite good shape, while the top interior of the hat box has deterioration to the fabric. Sweat band on inside if hat is cracked, with a small strip missing. Exterior of the hat itself is in gorgeous shape, with a little wear on the rims.
Hat measures approximately 7" tall, 11" long, 8 1/4" wide. Hat size measures 21" around. Hat Box measures 13" long, 11" wide, 9" tall.
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2L
1.5
5L
