Thermoplastic two-piece soap dish. Approx. diameter 3 ¼ in. With hanging loop. Interior marked “Manufactured by the Novelty Rubber Co. New Brunswick New Jersey. / Under Goodyears Patent. May 6 1851”; underside marked "Manufactured by the Novelty Rubber Co, New Brunswick New Jersey, Under Goodyear's Patent, May 6 1851."

The top of the lid bears a naval motif with the motto “Don’t Give up the Ship” and “U.S.N.” Per the latter mark, soap dishes such as this were used by sailors in the Union Navy during the Civil War.

Lacks the mirror that would have been inserted into the upper component, else a fine example with clearly struck text. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Navy, Naval History, Militaria, Gutta Percha, Thermoplastic]