I have been reading and after many hours of research online, I finally discovered a trunk almost EXACTLY like this one. It was dated late 1700's to early 1800's.
The name on the bottom has been difficult to decipher. The ink has been almost removed after so many years of use. We feel like it says "Edmonds X. _______" ..we can't tell if the last name starts with an A or a C. The top right hand corner has what could be either numbers, or initials (H. Q.) I have been researching old text and written script from that era, and haven't had much luck. There's more writing underneath all the names, but I'm afraid it's just not clear enough to me to read.
The original hardware, with the exception of the hinges, is still intact. The inside is just a simple lining as far as I can tell. The skin is worn mostly, but there are a few places where you can see and feel the hairs that are still present on the hide.
Like I mentioned before, I bought this trunk with the intention of restoring it, but the more I've inspected it, the more I wanted it appraised before I touch it. I wouldn't want to do anything to take away from it's worth. Any information you can tell me about the age of this trunk, what it would be worth if I chose to sell it, information on these types of trunks, and possibly the script/lettering, etc. would be wonderful!
Thank you!
