Civil War Navy shaving mirror and case, patent 1851

Two-piece container made of Gutta Percha. Issued to sailors aboard U.S. Navy ships during the Civil War. Lid reads, "Don't Give Up The Ship" and "U.S.N." over an anchor. The container was for shaving soap and has a mirror inside the lid. Also, there is a small ring for hanging. On the bottom of the container, the sailor or soldier carved his initial “K”.

In small, raised lettering on the bottom of the container is "Manufactured by the Novelty Rubber Company Co., Brunswick, New Jersey, Under Goodyear's patent May 6, 1851." The soap dish is approximately 3.25" in diameter x 1.5" high. Gutta Percha was the first "plastic" which could be molded into most any form and was heat and flame resistant.

There is an exact example in “The Civil War Collector's Encyclopedia”, by Francis Lord (see pictures). These boxes were not only used by the Navy, but because of their popularity, were also sold by camp sutlers and private purchases.

This case is in very nice condition overall; the mirror has the common problem, known as desilvering because of its age. There is about a one inch chip missing from the inside rim of the case, but this has no affect on anything