I think you have the necessary evidence at hand; it appears to be an early 20th century tobacco cutting box.
The calling cards display a common early 20 c motif; the sweet smell and light staining on the interior of the unfinished wood are suggestive of aromatic plant material; the blade set-up and the pull-out drawer to enable removal of loose plant leaf material; and then there is the invoice.
You might find documentary evidence through the receipt you have and/or through the US Patent Office - which has on file other portable devices such as this from that period, such as US1070988 A, 'Tobacco-cutting box' - which is not the one you are investigating, however.
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Kevin Coffee
Chicago IL
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-28-2015 09:39 AM
From: Geoffrey Woodcox
Subject: Friday mystery object
Hello everyone:
I have attached photos of an object we're having trouble identifying. In our records it is listed as a tool box but that just doesn't seem to fit. It has a burled wood veneer on the exterior and a locking lid on top. The main compartment has a perforated bottom with a metal chopping blade on a hinge in the center. There is a drawer that pulls out on bottom. Inside there were three small tools that are either awls or small woodcarving tools and there were also four calling cards, a handful of ancient flower petals, and a receipt from a grocer dated 1900-1910. When I opened the box up, it had an extremely strong musty/sweet smell.
My first thought is that it was a cigar humidor but it looks like no humidor I've ever seen or was able to find online. Whatever it is, the veneer suggests to me that it was meant for finer uses than as a toolbox. I've just never seen anything quite like this.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Geoff
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Geoffrey Woodcox
Assistant Curator of Collections
State Historical Society of North Dakota
Bismarck ND
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