www.925-1000.com

Dear 925-1000 community,

My understanding is that this is a postage stamp box:





Any findings on the box including but not limited to its properties and features or the design, manufacture, or sale of the article and parties who played a role in these activities apparently including Howard & Co. would be greatly appreciated. I don't know what the "28" hallmark means.

I discovered exchange concerning Howard & Co. in the following threads:

viewtopic.php?p=196041
viewtopic.php?p=148257

In the latter post there's indication that Howard & Co. was in business until 1937 and their Rhode Island store was open from 1880 until 1937. I'm also wondering if anyone knows anything about those particulars because they were posted here but both 925-1000.com and the British Museum website state that Howard & Co. was only active in some manner until 1922. (https://www.925-1000.com/ax_HowardNY.html)

Thank you for your time!

925-1000 community,

The 925-1000 website seems to indicate that the Frank W. Smith Silver Co. designed this stamp box: https://www.925-1000.com/ax_smithfrank.html

In consideration of this finding I'm wondering if anyone may now know more about this postage stamp holder with regard to its physical properties and features, its design, manufacture, or sale, or otherwise.

If the F.W. Smith Silver Co. designed the box by 1888 as the 925-1000 web page seems to indicate, the pictures that I shared may suggest that the F.W. Smith Silver Co.'s design was used by the F.W. Smith Silver Co., Howard & Co., or another party to manufacture the box by 1892 for Howard & Co. to retail.

I still don't know what the "28" print on the bottom of the box means which I shared above so if anyone knows what more about then please chime in.

Thank you for your attention.

The stamp box shown on the main site is dated to 1888 because it's engraved on the lid, Frank W. Smith was the manufacturer of that piece and this one, '28' is their production code, they wholesaled to various retailers, who could add their own marks, in this case Howard & Co. may have also added the '1892', which isn't necessarily the year of production.

Regarding the years in business posted for Howard & Co., the poster 'juliany' didn't cite their source, but Rainwater's 'Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers' notes "The last listing for the company appears in 1922."

~Cheryl