A Royal Louis XIII brass and iron mounted gilt tooled leather covered document’s casket for Princess Christine Marie of France, circa 1630-37

with carrying handle and hasp lock, the brass corner mounts on the lid pierced and engraved with crowns and scrolling foliage, the red moroccan leather overall gilt tooled with crowned double C's and fleur-de-lys, the lid opening to a suede lined interior, with a retractable right-hand side revealing a secret lower compartment; the casket now raised on a probably 19th century velvet covered stand with metal fleur-de-lys mounts and inscription Cofanetto di Christina de Francia Madama Reale Ved. di V. Amadeo ... 1637 (front), and Figlia di Enrico IV. E di Maria de Medici Sor, Di Luigi VIII-Nata 1600, Morta 1663 (back);

the interior containing: a prayer book , Miroir du Penitent... Paris: Chez Hierosme de Marnef, & Guillaume Cauellat, 1579, gilt tooled morocco binding; Marie de Medici, letter signed, as Regent of France, to the Marquis de Rambouillet, ambassador to Savoy, partially in cipher, 1 page, folio, 28 November 1614, integral address leaf, remains of seal; and three further letters relating to the house of Savoy, 1616-38

casket: 14.5 cm high, 41 x 28 cm

stand: 6cm high, 46cm wide, 33cm deep