The initials are for Robert Howard Russell, the NYC publisher of Charles Dana Gibson and Fredrick Remington. The box has a trick to it -- it opens the opposite way you would think, with the 'hinge' actually the latch
It has some damage as a consequence -- a previous owner didn't figure it out and tried to pry it open -- but nothing disastrous. It was made by Shepherd & Co (I think, but would like confirmation) in London 1900.
