Travelling razor case
This small object may have been one of several travelling razor cases owned by George Washington over the course of his lifetime. It originally came equipped with all the tools necessary to maintain a neat appearance: two razors, a hone and strop to set them, a mirror, comb, lather brush, scissors, and possibly a toothpick. While Washington was typically clean-shaven, on at least one occasion illness required him to depart from his usual grooming regimen. In a 1786 letter to a friend, he explained, "I am tolerably well again, but obliged to make use of Scissars instead of a Razor, for part of my face, when shaving."
Published ReferencesStanley V. Henkels, Auction Commission Merchant, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 14 December 1920, Catalogue 1269, (Philadelphia: Stanley V. Henkels, 1920), Lot. 133. (Offered for sale but apparently not sold)
Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., Incunabula-American Association Books-Sets/ Famous Classics of Science and Other First Editions-Autographs & Manuscripts/Birds-Flowers-Other Books. . . Public Auction Sale January 29 and 30 at 1:45 P.M. Catalogue 1220, (New York: Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., 1951), Lot 633.