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1910 Louis Vuitton Britannica encyclopaedia Trunk

$23,251.31
£16,995
€19,994.97
CA$31,932.19
A$35,738.43
CHF 18,661.04
MX$436,010.94
NOK 236,877.40
SEK 224,782.07
DKK 149,312.96
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About the Item

One of the rarest, a 1910 Louis Vuitton Britannica encyclopaedia trunk, housing a complete set of the 11th edition published by the Cambridge Press. Extract from the book 100 Legendary Trunks , By Louis Vuitton “ What would you take to read on a desert island ?” No one dares to answer “ the Encyclopaedia Britannica.” And yet this staggering survey of knowledge and science, still considered the most complete and best researched in the world, constantly revised and updated, would be useful way to pass the time of the day and improve the mind. And you don’t to rack your brain to figure out a way to take it with you :Louis Vuitton has already taken care of that. He did so in 1910, when the encyclopaedia’s publisher, associated with Cambridge University, placed and order for 1000 trunks. The trunks were ordered an year in advance of the eleventh edition of the Britannica and would be used to deliver the completely revised edition to subscribers. The library trunk was “ specially made for the Encyclopaedia Britannica by Louis Vuitton. “ Each one was intended to carry twenty-nine volumes- roughly 28,000 pages, excluding the index, containing 40,000 articles- which had been edited down to allow the encyclopaedia to expand its market in North America. The first edition had come out in Edinburgh between 1765 and 1771, at a time when European leaning was toward the Enlightenment, encyclopedic learning, and dictionaries. The Encyclopaedia Britannica developed thereafter into an enterprise that ran full time at full capacity and mobilized people who knew what they were talking about: Walter Scott, Aldous Huxley, Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Henry Ford, and even Harry Houdini. Vuitton’s library trunk belonged to their range of commercial trunks, covered in black or tobacco-brown Vuittonite, and also in monogram canvas or copper, depending on the order. Once the lid was raised, the trunk revealed the volumes in rows, so they could be readily identified by numbers and title. The trunk is wrapped in Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram canvas, which shows wear and fading consistent with its age of over 100 years. There are remnants of the original custom-painted design still visible on the lid canvas, adding character and historical interest. The interior features a flocked lining that exhibits marks and staining. The original leather handle on the top of the trunk is missing, and the key is not present. The set of encyclopaedias included shows signs of sun-related wear.
  • Designer:
  • Brand:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13 in (33 cm)Depth: 9.85 in (25 cm)Length: 35.44 in (90 cm)Marked Size: 90cm x 33cm x 25cm (UK)
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1910-1919
  • Material Notes:
    Louis Vuitton's antique trunks were crafted using durable canvas, often with a monogram pattern, and reinforced with wooden frames, steel or brass corners for durability.
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Shows signs of age and use, with minor fading. Overall, in good condition. Some fading on the exterior canvas and minor staining inside, but remains entirely original. Key is not included. Please refer to photos and description for full details.
  • Seller Location:
    Daventry, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU4343226121962

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