A silver rectangular cigar/cigarette box by Asprey & Co. Ltd, London 1911, with twin hinged s

A silver rectangular cigar/cigarette box by Asprey & Co. Ltd, London 1911, with twin hinged side handles, the cover engraved with a monogram ‘HRP’, a crest and a motto ‘Speratum et completum’, the front hinged, the interior with wooden divisions, presentation engraved, 34cm (131/2 in) wide, loaded. Sold on behalf of BRB (Residuary) Ltd. The inscription reads ‘Bequeathed to the directors of Carter, Patterson & Co. Ltd, by Herbert R. Paterson, director 1890-1933 and presented by them to the British Transport Commission. 1st January 1948’. Carter Paterson was a British road haulage firm, closely associated with the railway industry. It had been founded in 1860 and in October 1933 the Big Four railway companies purchased control of the company in equal shares. Ownership passed on nationalisation to the British Transport Commission and was subsequently absorbed into British Road Services.

**condition report: Marks clear, hinge to lid, carrying handles and fall front good, interior wood divisions with repairs and one section broken off across short grain, also with one piece of one edge missing and some dividers missing, two deep scratches to exterior silver lid and further surface scratching, engraving slightly rubbed, base in good order but scuffed in parts