1885 Flora MacDonald Needle Case, Abel Morrall Co. Redditch, England

#582:

This is a tiny beautiful old vintage advertising paper piece we recently found at an antique Show in southwest England. It's an antique yellow paper packet of sewing needles, with an early lithographic image of the Scottish heroine, Flora MacDonald. Flora has an amazing women's place in Scottish history.

    Flora MacDonald 1722-1790 was born in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, part of the of the illustrious Macdonald clan. She became a Scottish Jacobite heroine in her lifetime. Flora was famous for helping Prince Charles Edward Stuart, heir to the British throne, in escaping Scotland after he was defeated in the 1745-1746 Jacobite rebellion. The English, realizing her role in his escape, imprisoned her in the Tower of London. She was pardoned in 1747. In 1750 she married Allan Macdonald, a soldier, of Kingsburgh, and they had 7 children. In 1774 after hard times in Scotland, they made the journey to North Carolina, in hopes of a better life in America. Allan fought for the British in the American Revolutionary War, and was captured. Flora made the journey home to Scotland in 1779 alone, but was later reunited with her husband.

A book entitled "The Life of Flora Macdonald" published in 1882 helped make her a Scottish heroine for the ages. There are many stories, poems and folk ballads about her life. If you love history, you may enjoy reading how Flora and her group of brave clanswomen devised a woman’s costume for the prince, safely bringing him across the Highlands and the sea, delivering him to the Isle of Skye.

Text on this old piece reads:
Outside paper wrapper printed on yellow paper: "Abel Morrall, Ltd. Clive Works, Redditch, Over a century's reputation." Inside, black paper with gold text: "Ladies who are well pleased with the quality of these needles, should ask again for the same packet. It is always a pleasure to use an article which is the BEST OF ITS KIND. Ask for Abel Morrall's "Aero" Knitting Pins, Lightweight, New Dull Finish." (Abel Morrall Limited) Front reads: Size 18/22. The Flora MacDonald Needle Packet. Made in England. Reg. Trade Mark. Abel Morrall's Celebrated Needles.

Note: Redditch, England is a town in north east Worcestershire, England, about 15 miles south of Birmingham. The town name is said to have come from "Red Ditch", possibly a reference to River Arrow's reddish clay. Since the 1700's, Redditch was known for producing fish hooks, tackle and needles. Queen Elizabeth II was influential in opening the Forge Mill Needle Museum, a national needle making museum there, in 1983.

The Abel Morrall family were famous needlemakers, in business from 1785-1941. This is a beautiful little antique fold-out advertising sewing needle case, sharps packet. We have never seen one before in our travels, and were happy to find it. Condition is as seen in scan. Will be sent in a rigid sleeve.

Size: 2 x 1.5 inches, opens to 5.5 inches total.
      Note: Hello from ~debra. I have spent years collecting over 10,000 ID’d lost family photos & paper from US flea markets & antique shops. I do the best gen research I can, but am always open to corrections. This is an original antique item, not a reprint. A new high quality rigid sleeve is included for extra protection, especially during shipping. You may buy a piece alone, or large intimate 300 dpi scans of the front and back sent immediately via email, or both. Please search carefully, as they are often found together and many may be related. I also invite you to join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. Thank you, enjoy! ~Debra Clifford (contact info on top bar)