London, 1896
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The Eastern Telegraph Company Limited (issued for)
Desk accessory, about the size of a ruler, with handle and both ends rounded, intended as a page turner or letter opener. It was issued as a promotional item or souvenir for The Eastern Telegraph Company Limited and The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company Limited, 50 and 11 Old Broad Street, London, E.C. in 1896, and bears their name and official logo seals. The blade is decorated with a varnished section of world map on each side, having red lines indicating international land and sea telegraph lines. On one side, the map extends as far north as Brussels and south to include Arabia, from the coast of the United States in the west to Japan in the east.
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The other side encompasses Australia from north to south, and extends from Australia and New Zealand west to South America. The black lacquered rounded handle has a gilt decorated printed calendar for the year 1896 on both sides. Apparently these desk items were issued in various years in the 1890s. Another example dated 1899 is known.
The Eastern Telegraph Company was established in 1872 as an amalgamation of a number of important smaller telegraph companies. Sir James Anderson, who had captained the Great Eastern on its successful laying of the 1866 Atlantic cable, was General Manager. The company developed a huge network of telegraphs by creating new routes, adding cables to busy existing routes. In the early years of the 20th century, the Eastern became part of the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies which incorporated many other telegraph companies from around the world. Condition: Generally very good, with the usual overall wear, toning, soiling. Some scattered ink stains, not obtrusive. Reference: "Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies." Cable & Wireless. http://www.cwhistory.com/history/html/EastrnTCo.html (6 March 2003). |