A Mysterious Antique 17th Century Spy Book With Secret Covert Device Wired Within & Button To The Spine
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A Rare & Mysterious Antique 17th Century Book With A Covert Hidden Cut Out Safe Hole, With A Device Wired Within & A Button To The Spine. An Antique Full Of Intrigue And Mystery. I’ve Seen Secret Book Safes Before, But None With This Wired Device, Which Is Likely A Torch. Could This Have Been A Covert Morse Code Device…? A Fabulous Curiosity And A Real Conversation Started!
Concealment devices have been used throughout history and were essentially created to hide things for the purpose of secrecy or security. They were made from ordinary household object such as books and candles or something as small as a coin. The idea is that such an inconspicuous object would not be expected to contain anything of worth.
Examples in espionage include dead drop spikes for transferring items to other people, or hollowed out teeth for concealing something - such as microfilm or a suicide pill. In fact, during World War II many concealment devices were created for "escape aids" to assist prisoners of war to escape.
Books are a fine example of a secret concealment device. They were easily made and could contain objects of varying size. They have been used throughout history to conceal anything from jewellery and money within the home, to more sinister items such as small pistols.
This particular example is very intriguing… The book itself has considerable age, dating to 1675. The device wired inside appears to be for a light, and the button on the side allows it to be turned on and off… Could it have been made by a prisoner of war…? Was it used for morse code…? I’m truly taken by the mystery surrounding this piece!
Condition is good, commensurate with age and use. The wired device is untested. There is some dame to the lower side which has split. The back cover has become unstuck from the bottom. However, considering the age of the book and taking into account what it might have been used for or even lived through, it’s in pretty good shape.
Measures 15.5cm x 10cm x 3.5cm.
Weighs 155 grams