Antique 1700s Clement Clark Moore Wood Box + Sterling

This listing is for a very rare combination of items including a small wooden trunk and three pieces of silver flatware from Bailey & Co, the predecessor to Bailey, Banks & Biddle. These items belonged to Benjamin Moore, the second Protestant Bishop of New York, who then passed them on to his son Clement Clark Moore who reluctantly gained fame as the author of "The Night Before Christmas." The seller purchased these items in 1971 at the estate sale of a professor Schaible in East Lansing, Michigan. His wife was the last direct descendent of Clement Clark Moore. Since they had no children at the time she died, he sold the entire contents of their house, including the trunk and silver flatware. There is also a small booklet about the origins of "The Night Before Christmas" included in this listing. The booklet claims that Clement Moore's father was named Samuel but all other sources we found indicated his name was Benjamin. The trunk measures approximately 20" inches wide, 10" inches deep, and 8" inches high. It's mostly wood with metal trim and what appears to be leather. The bottom of the trunk is stamped "Sam I.W. Moore 48 Warren Street N York." The silver flatware includes a fork, spoon, and knife. Each piece is monogrammed "HM" on the top and the bottoms are stamped "Bailey & Co." with several hallmarks including an animal, an S, a shield, and another animal that appears to be a lion. These pieces are in good condition overall. The trunk has moderate scuffs. Some of the painted inner paper has worn away, and the strap on the lid may not be original. There is no key included. The silver has minor scuffs and dings and some tarnishing. This listing has no reserve price so don't miss your chance to win!

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Approximate measurements of the silver:

Fork: 6.5" inches long
Spoon: 6.5" inches long
Knife: 7.25" inches long