A jewelled two-colour gold, tortoiseshell and blue glass Royal Presentation snuff box, unmarked, presumably supplied by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, circa 1821

circular, the glazed lid inset with the rose diamond-set cipher of  George IV below the royal crown, on foiled blue glass within reeded gold circlets, chased lemon-gold oak leaf and acorn border, gold lining with applied shell and scroll thumbpiece

under glaze chip or scrape to glass on lid at 7 o'clock; crack to tortoiseshell and discreet repairs to base below hinge
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Glued to the interior of the box is a part cutting from an earlier sale catalogue, inscribed tantalisingly:
formerly the property of Queen ...

Given the date of this box and George IV's well-known patronage of Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, it can be assumed that the cipher is his rather than that of his father. The Prince Regent was crowned in 1821, two years after the death of his mother Queen Charlotte; his own wife Caroline from whom he had separated in 1796 died shortly after the coronation, from which she had been banned. Therefore if the catalogue note refers to an English queen, the most likely candidate would be Queen Adelaide, wife of George IV's brother, later William IV.

It is very probable that the presentation box was made by John Northam or Alexander James Strachan, to be supplied by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. A gold box made for royal presentation to Simon Bolivar, maker's mark of A.J. Strachan, London, 1821, the lid enclosing a profile bust of George IV by Thomas Wyon junior and signed: Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, is decorated with the same familiar chased oak border. A circular tortoiseshell box,  inset with another profile of George IV and view of Windsor Castle, dated 1828, repeats the gold thumbpiece to be found on the present example (Exhibition catalogue: Royal Goldsmiths: The Art of Rundell & Bridge 1797-1843,  the former fig. 36, the latter figs. 82 & 83)