GEORGE IV 18 CARAT GOLD SNUFF BOX: OF ROYAL SURGEONS, KENTISH & MASONIC IMPORT

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GEORGE IV 18 CARAT GOLD SNUFF BOX: OF ROYAL SURGEONS, KENTISH & MASONIC IMPORT:
$10200.00

PRESENTED IS A GEORGE IV PRESENTATION 18 CARAT GOLD SNUFF BOX CREATED BY JOHNJONES III OF LONDON IN 1829;

THIS FINE SNUFF BOX WAS PRESENTED BY THE TOWNSPEOPLE OF MAIDSTONE, WESTKENT, TO FREDERICK FRY, Esq. FELLOW OF ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS INDECEMBER OF 1866;THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS\' SITE HAS THE FOLLOWING ENTRY ONFREDERICK Fry\'s BIOGRAPHY:

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IN ADDITION TO BEING A SURGEON, FRY WAS A FREEMASON AS INDICATED BY ANARTICLE ENTITLED \"FREEMASONRY IN KENT\" (THE KENTISH GAZETTE, OCTOBER,30, 1860);

THE PRESENTATION OF THE GOLD SNUFF BOX TOGETHER WITH A SILVER EPERGNE ISWELL-DOCUMENTED, NOT ONLY IN THE MEDICAL JOURNAL \"THE LANCET\",FEBRUARY 9, 1867, BUT RATHER EXTENSIVELY IN THE KENTISH GAZETTE OFTUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1867-- PLEASE SEE THE ARTICLE BELOW;

WHEREAS THE ACCOMPANYING SILVER EPERGNE IS ENGRAVED WITH THE DATE OFTHE CEREMONY--DECEMBER, 1866; CURIOUSLY, THE DATE ENGRAVED ON THE INSIDECOVER OF THE BOX IS DECEMBER, 1829;

GIVEN THE ABSENCE OF ERASURE OF A PREVIOUS INSCRIPTION, THE ONLY LIKELYACCOUNT IS THAT THE TOWNSPEOPLE HONOURED Mr. FRY WITH THIS PARTICULARGOLD SNUFF BOX TO COMMEMORATE THE YEAR THAT HE TOOK UP RESIDENCE INMAIDSTONE, THIRTY SEVEN YEARS AGO;

THE TASK OF PROCURING AN UN-ENGRAVED 1829GOLD SNUFF BOX IN THEVICTORIAN ERA WAS, AS IT STILL IS EVEN BY TODAY\'SSTANDARDS INCOMMUNICATION, A TRIBUTE OF SEEMINGLYUNSURMOUNTABLE PROPORTIONS;

THE RECTANGULAR BOX IS DECORATED WITH EXQUISITELY-CHASED FLORAL ANDFOLIATE BORDER. THE COVER, THE SIDES, AND THE BASE ENGINE-TURNED WITHPANELS OFELABORATE WAVY MOIRE\' PATTERNWITHIN POLISHED GOLD FRAMES. THECOVER ENGRAVED WITH FRY\'s ARMS AND CREST;

FULLY MARKED ON THE INSIDE OF THE BASE WITH THE ENGLISH POST 1798STANDARD MARK FOR 18 CARAT GOLD, THE ENGLISH STANDARD MARK FOR GOLD1798-1974, THE LONDON ASSAYER MARK, THE DUTY MARK, THE YEAR MARK,AND THE MAKER\'s MARK.PARTIALLY MARKED ON THE INSIDE OF THE COVER;

EXCELLENT CONDITION-- THE EXPECTED AGE-WEAR- THE HINGE TO THE COVER INFINE CONDITION, THE COVER CLOSES FLUSH, NO DENTS OR OTHER FLAWS;

3 1/2\" x 1 3/4\" x 1\";

WEIGHT: 149 GRAMSOF NOTE: ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE BELOW, THE SNUFF BOX AND THE EPERGNECOST A TOTAL OF 150 GUINEAS. THE RATIO OF GOLD TO SILVER PRICES IN 1866WAS 15.75 TO 1-- THE PER OUNCE PRICE OF GOLD WAS 4.50 POUNDS IN BRITAIN AND 20DOLLARS IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS RATIO HAS SINCE CHANGED TO 60 TO 1.
THE WEIGHT OF THE EPERGNE IS NOT KNOWNTO US, HOWEVER, BASED ON THE EXTRA-ORDINARY QUALITY OF THIS SNUFF BOX,IT MAY BE ASSERTED THAT AT LEAST HALF OF THE FUNDS WENT TOWARDS THE PURCHASEOF THIS ITEM.

PRESENTATION OF THE \"FRY\" TESTIMONIAL:

ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THE INTERESTING CEREMONY OF PRESENTING TO OUR ESTEEMEDTOWNSMAN, Mr.FREDERICK FRY A TESTIMONIAL OF THE HIGH ESTEEM IN WHICH HE IS HELD INTHIS NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR HIS ZEALOUS, UNREMITTING AND MOST EFFICIENT SERVICES ASSENIOR SURGEON TO WEST KENT GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR NEARLY THIRTY YEARS, CAME OFF ATTHE ROYAL STAR HOTEL,WHERE A LARGE PARTY OFGENTLEMEN ATTENDED, AND EVERY RESPECTWAS PAID TO A REALLY SPLENDID BANQUET, PLACED ON THETABLE IN A STYLE REFLECTING THEHIGHEST POSSIBLE CREDIT UPON Mr. AND Mrs. HUBBARD. THE CHAIR WAS TAKEN BY W. LAWRENCE. Esq., J.P., ELEFIELD HOUSE, CHAIRMAN OF THETESTIMONIALCOMMITTEE, AND THE VICE CHAIR BY Mr. G. BAKER, THE SECRETARY.

ON THE REMOVAL OF THE CLOTH, THE USUAL LOYAL PATRIOTIC TOASTS WERE GIVEN. COLONELSCOTT RETURNING THANKS FOR THE ARMY AND CAPTAIN COMMANDANT HOLLINGSWOTH FORTHE VOLUNTEERSAND CAPTAIN PRENTIS FOR THE YEOMANRY. THE CHAIRMAN SAID THE PLEASING DUTY NOW DEVOLVEDUPON HIM NOT ONLY OF PROPOSINGTHE TOAST OF THE EVENING, BUT OF PRESENTING TO THEIR NOBLEAND VALUED FRIEND, Mr. FRY,THE TESTIMONIAL WHICH HAD BEEN SUBSCRIBED FOR BY SO MANY PERSONS,AS PROOF OF THEIRHIGHEST ESTEEM AND REGARD IN WHICH HE WAS HELD AMONG THEM, AND IN DOINGSO HE FELTHE SHOULD HAVE NEED OF THEIR KIND INDULGENCE, NOT BECAUSE HE FELT THE TASKITSELFWAS A DIFFICULT ONE, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TDOJUSTICETO IT. THEY ALL KNEW HIM AS A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF A MOST NOBLE PROFESSION. THEYKNEW THEMEMBERS OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS WERE SECOND TO NO PROFESSION INDEVOTING THEIRTIME AND THEIR SERVICES, ESPECIALLY TO THE POORER CLASSES; AND, THEYKNEW THAT Mr. FRY WASESPECIALLY ZEALOUS AND ATTENTIVE TO CASES WHERE HE COULDLOOK FOR NO FEE OR REWARD. THATPROFESSION ALWAYS DEVOTED TO THE POOR A GREATERAMOUNT OF GRATUITOUS SERVICES THAN ANYOTHER PROFESSION; AND OF Mr. FRY, IT MIGHTTRULY BE SAID HE LOST NO OPPORTUNITY FOR DOINGGOOD (LOUD CHEERS.)

Mr. FRY HAD BEEN IN MAIDSTONE SOME THIRTY SEVEN YEARS AND DURING TWENTY EIGHT YEARSOF THATPERIOD, HE HAD BEEN A MOST EFFICIENT SURGEON TO THE WEST KENT HOSPITAL(CHEERS.)THE TESTIMONIAL IT WAS HIS PLEASING DUTY TO PRESENT HIM HAD BEEN SUBSCRIBED FOR BYNEARLY500 PERSONS, AND OF THAT NUMBER THERE WERE 300 OF THE POOR CLASSES WHO HADDERIVED BENEFITFROM Mr. Fry\'s SERVICES, AND WHO DESIRED TO SHOW, NOT ONLY THEIRAPPRECIATION OF HISGRATUITOUS SERVICES TO THE INSTITUTION HE HAD SPOKEN OF, BUTTHEIR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THEMANY SERVICES HE HAD RENDERED TO THE POOR.THAT WASNOT A TESTIMONIAL PRESENTED BY THE RICH ALONE, FOR MANY OF THE THREE HUNDREDSUBSCRIBERS TO WHOM HE ALLUDED HAD SUBSCRIBED SHILLINGS AND THEIR SIXPENCE EACH(LOUD CHEERS.)HE BEGGED, IN PARTICULAR, THEREFORE, TO IMPRESS UPON THEIR VALUEDFRIEND THAT THE FACT THATTHE TESTIMONIAL HE WAS TO RECEIVE AT THEIR HANDS WAS ATESTIMONIAL PRESENTED NOT ONLY FROMTHE RICH, BUT ALSO FROM THE POOR(HEAR.HEAR)TURNING TO Mr. FRY, THE CHAIRMAN WENT ON TO SAY, OF COURSE, THE TESTIMONIAL MIGHTHAVE BEENPRESENTED TO YOU IN FAR MORE ELOQUENT TERMS; AND, I SHOULD HAVE PREFERREDTHAT IT SHOULDHAVE BEEN PRESENTED BY THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE OFTHE TOWN IN ORDER THAT GREATERHONOURSHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID YOU, BUT NO ONE CAN POSSIBLY FEEL MOREDEEPLY THAN MYSELF HOW MUCHTHE TOWNSPEOPLE ARE INDEBTED TO YOU. BE PLEASED,THEREFORE, TO ACCEPT AT MY HANDS THIS MARK OF OUR ESTEEM AND REGARD.THE TESTIMONIAL, WHICH CONSISTED OF A SPLENDID EPERGNE AND GOLD SNUFF BOX,WAS FORMALLYHANDED OVER TO Mr. FRY AMIDST LOUD CHEERING. THE EPERGNE, WHICH WASOF SILVER, WAS OF MOST CHASTE DESIGN, AND BORE UPON ITS BASE FRY, Esq., F.R.C.SWITH GOLD SNUFF BOX,PRESENTED BY HIS MANY FRIENDS IN RECOGNITION OF HISVALUABLE AND HIGHLY APPRECIATED SERVICES FOR28 YEARS AS HONORARY SURGEON TOTHE WEST KENT GENERAL HOSPITAL.MAIDSTONE, DECEMBER, 1866

THE GOLD SNUFF BOX, WHICH WAS VERY HANDSOME, HAD UPON THE LID THE ARMS AND CRESTOF Mr. FRY AND ON THE INSIDE A SIMILAR INSCRIPTION, THE WHOLE COSTING 150 GUINEAS.

MR. FRY, WHO WAS GREETED WITH LOUD AND CONTINUAL CHEERING, SAID HE ROSE WITHFEELINGS OFGREATEST PLEASURE UPON THAT OCCASION, TO RETURN HIS SINCERE THANKS.HE CONSIDERED HISTHANKS WERE MORE ESPECIALLY DUE TO Mr. LAWRENCE, AS CHAIRMAN OFTHE COMMITTEE, FOR THEBOUNTIFUL SUPPLY OF GOOD CHEER THEY HAD HAD THAT DAY. HISTHANKS WERE STILL MORE DUE TO HIMFOR THE KIND , THE HANDSOME, AND HE THOUGHT HEOUGHT TO SAY VERY FLATTERING MANNER IN WHICHHE HAD SPOKEN OF HIM (Mr. FRY) (NO, NO,NO).HE HAD ALSO TO THANK THE MEETING FOR THE VERY KIND WAY IN WHICH THOSE REMARKSHAD BEEN RECEIVED. HIS THANKS WERE ALSO DUE TO THOSE WHO HADCONTRIBUTED TO THATVERY HANDSOME TESTIMONIAL, ESPECIALLY TO THE POORER SUBSCRIBERS.

WHEN HE LOOKED AT THAT SPLENDID EPERGNE, AND THAT VERY BEAUTIFUL SNUFF BOX, HECOULD ASSURE THEM HE APPRECIATED THE GIFT, NOT ONLY FOR ITS INTRINSIC VALUE,ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NOT TO BEOVERLOOKED, BUT AS A MARK OF THEIR REGARD AND THEIRFRIENDSHIP, AND OF THEIR APPROBATION FORHIS SERVICES FOR 28 YEARS AT THE HOSPITAL,AND STILL FURTHER AS SOME PROOF OF HIS CONDUCTDURING THE 37 YEARS HE HAD BEEN ARESIDENT IN MAIDSTONE HAD BEEN SUCH AS TO ENTITLE HIM TOTHEIR RESPECT. HAD HE NOTPROPERLY CONDUCTED HIMSELF, HE BELIEVED THAT IF HIS SERVICES HADBEEN FIFTY TIMESMORE VALUABLE THAN THEY HAD BEEN, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO KINDLY,SOHANDSOMELY REWARDED (CHEERS.)

HE HAD SPENT THIRTY SEVEN OF THE BEST YEARS OF HIS LIFE AMONG THEM, AND HE MIGHTTRULY SAY THOSE WERE YEARS OF HAPPINESS AND PLEASURE. MIGHT HIS FUTURE LIFE BE ASHAPPY.

HE FELT HE COULD NOT THANK THEM AS HE OUGHT, BUT BEGGED TO ASSURE THEM HE MOSTHIGHLY APPRECIATED THEIR KINDNESS. THE OTHER TOASTS INCLUDED \"THE MAYOR\", \"THE CHAIRMAN\", \"THE TREASURER (COL. SCOTT), \"THE MAGISTRATES WITH Mr. ARKCOLL\", \"THE VISITORS\", \"THE SECRETARY (Mr. BAKER)\", \"THE PRESS\", AND \'THE LADIES\" ; AND, TO EACH OF THEM AMPLE JUSTICE WAS DONE, A RIGHT MERRY AND PLEASANT EVENING BEING

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