Two-piece hard rubber shaving soap case, with interior mirror, and small brass suspension ring. Goodyear touted hard rubber for these since they were not injured by hot water, would not warp or corrode like metal or wood, would not break like China or glass and were watertight when screwed closed. There were civilian versions with other motifs on the cover, and a more generally military themed version, but this one was clearly aimed at members of the navy (or their loved ones wishing to come up with a good-bye gift they would look at often on a sea voyage,) bearing a starburst design around the top with a round panel at center showing an anchor, thirteen stars, and U.S.N. all in raised figures on a stippled ground, with a border reading “DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP” with two twisting ropes beneath. Both the bottom of the container and the rim inside the lid that retains a shaving mirror, are marked in raised letters, "Manufactured by the Novelty Rubber Company Co., Brunswick, New Jersey / Under Goodyear's patent May 6, 1851."

The condition is excellent. The thin brass suspension ring to hang up the mirrored top for use is in place. The color is brown overall. The detailing of the design and the lettering is sharp. There are no breaks, chips or cracks. The bottom of the soap dish shows a few scratches and there some thin whitish residue in some of the recesses of the design. The screws retaining the rim around the mirror inside the lid show some rust. The mirror is in place and intact, with no cracks, showing just some gray areas around the perimeter from oxidation underneath. Please see our photos. For reference on these and other similar goods during the period see Woshner’s “India-Rubber and Gutta-Percha in the Civil War Era.”  [sr][ph:L]

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