This is way cool, and we're definitely not going to come across another like it anytime soon, or ever. It is a distinctly Victorian, 1870s to be precise, kit for making wax flowers (of the sort to be placed inside "parlour domes" and given pride of place in the Victorian parlor). Included in the box is a dozen envelopes, each labeled by hand with the name of one or more flowers, and each containing one or several folded paper packets inside of which are a series of handmade cut paper templates--for the individual components (petals, leaves, etc.) of that particular flower. Plus 20+ vials of colored pigments for painting the wax, a handful of brass manufactured leaf templates, and a number of different tools, the precise use for each I haven't delved deep enough to understand.
What makes this set all the more special is the name written inside: John Wanamaker, 13th Street, Philadelphia -- which identifies the John as the John Wanamaker, founder of the famous, history-making Wanamaker's Department Store, with this address that of the flagship store, which became a Philadelphia landmark. It is hard to know whether this was his own box, or that of an employee charged with producing wax flowers for display/sale, or perhaps purchased there--but the fact that the name and address is handwritten makes it seem pretty close to home one way another, and it certainly dates to the very early years of the store.
Box measures 12 1/4" x 7" x 3 1/2" not including handle. All contents pictured, but I did not document the contents of each envelope--all appear filled with one or more packets of tiny cut paper templates. Some vials are nearly full of pigement, others nearly empty--as pictured. All in good condition.
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