Lot 311: - A George IV brass-mounted mahogany writing box By N. Middleton, circa 1825

the brass-bound case with inset carrying handles to the sides opening to a slope with red baize lined surfaces with an arrangement of original glass bottles, silver-plated ink bottle and sander and with gilt-lacquered brass candle-nozzles and drip-pans, secret compartments and lifting section, the underside of the main flap with label including the Royal coat of Arms 'Bought of N. Middleton/Original Black Lead Pencil &/Pocket Book Maker to the King and Prince of Wales/at No. 162 the corner of Strand Lane, opposite the New Church in ye. Strand/and at No. 145, Strand, opposite Catherine Street/NB Writing and Dressing Desks & Boxes of every kind', the smaller slope with a further label 'N. Middleton,/STATIONER,/Pocket Book and Pencil Maker,/To the King and Prince of Wales,/162 Strand, opposite Newcastle Street,/and 145 Strand, opposite Catherine Street'

19cm. high, 53cm. wide, 29cm. deep; 7½in., 1ft. 9 in., 11½ in.

Nicholas Middleton is recorded at 162 The Strand, London, 1801-1810. In 1801 he is recorded as supplying the Royal Household with `a Case for Box seat to the Nabob' costing £1 16s; and on 27 December 1810, a writing box costing £5 4s. 10d., recorded in the accounts on 22nd January 1812. [Windsor Royal Archives, 88916, 89031].