Antique, silver handel, Cherub letter opener circa 1820 England

Antique, silver handel, Cherub letter opener circa 1820 England

Size: 16.5 cm long

The history of the letter opener

Letter openers have a rich historical significance that dates back centuries.

In the early 1800s, books were printed on long reams of uncut paper. While these were bound and cut on one side, missed cuts were commonplace, so the paper knife was invented to solve the problem manually.

By the mid-1800s, a paper knife was an essential desk accessory.

The letter opener was an offshoot of the paper knife and became popular around the same time.

Their popularity boomed with the invention of flat-rate postal services in Europe and the USA. As a result of the postal service change, far more letters were sent and received.

Antique letter openers are often engraved with the initials or name of the original owner, and letter openers owned by dominant figures of the mid to late-1800s are still being unearthed.

Letter openers of the past are highly collectable and sought-after because they’re small, attractive objects that serve a purpose.