An East India Company surgeon’s pocket instrument case

£175.00

The mahoghany case, measuring approximately 9 x 3 x 1 ins. has an inset brass excutheon plate in the lid with the East India Company’s  identification mark of the letters E I C within a heart shape surmounted by the numeral 4 . The box, probably early to mid 19th century, opens to reveal a red velvet lined interior which retains a few steel instruments: the small blade and the pair of scissor like instruments used probably in stitching up wounds are marked by Evans of London. 

The EIC mark came into use in the early 1600s and developed this precise form in about 1700 being generally recognised as the first global trade mark. It was known as the Chop from a Hindi word meaning stamp.

1 in stock