Leather cartridge box with 17-hole wooden block. Front of flap clearly marked "T S". Overall leather embossed with diagonal lines, flap embossed with a triple-lined geometric border echoing the shape of the flap, a scalloped pattern, and a double-lined rectangle. Approx. 9 1/2 x 7 x 2 1/2 in., hole bore approx. 47/64 in. 

Despite its relatively simple composition, a facet shared with other early cartridge boxes, the precise leatherwork sets this example apart from the rest.  Each of the 17 holes would have held a paper-wrapped musket cartridge, with the box itself protecting them from the elements.

A rare early American cartridge box. 

[American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America] [Militaria, Accouterment, Equipment, Uniforms]

The condition of the leather is as shown. The flap is partially separated. One of the leather straps to the reverse is missing entirely and the other hangs freely. There is damage as shown to the corner of the wooden block.