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 had a mirror inside the lid. As is typical, the mirror has been lost. Marked on the bottom, "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/flame resistant.  [jet]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!