Regency Era Calling Card Cases

Sometimes research leads down a rabbit hole that makes you wonder, "why did I not know this?"

This snippet is from the Historical Hussies blog about calling cards, but I was intrigued because I'd never read anything about the actual carrying cases for those cards. And I am clueless why I never thought to look it up before.

Quality calling cards were made from a high-quality paper, often plain as ornamentation on a card was considered to be poor taste until later in the 19th century and they were engraved. They were kept in beautiful cases, which during the Regency era, were primarily of filigree, leather and tortoiseshell, but later in the century became more elaborate—ivory, tortoiseshell and woodwork.

Late in the Victorian era, they were sometimes painted with views of castles or scenery. A gentleman’s card case was slightly smaller than a lady’s since he had to carry it in his pocket.