Snuff box with William of Orange inscription had shipwreck provenance
A 19th century oak snuff box offered at Lawrences (22% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne on July 11 was inset with copper and inscribed Made from the wreck of the Betsy Cains which brought King William to England 1688 and A.Reed Esq. Mayor 1827.
The catalogue printed the box’s back story without comment: “After 1689 the ship, which was then c…