Strop
Gentlemen in the eighteenth century often travelled with compact razor cases that held their personal set of shaving and dressing supplies. One such case, possibly belonging to George Washington, contained this thin leather-faced strop. To "set" or maintain the smooth edge on a straight razor, the user would repeatedly draw each side of the blade across the leather.
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.