Letter Openers

Letter openers have been used since the eighteenth century. Ivory and silver were favored by the well-to-do. From the start, letter openers were both practical and simple, artistic and ornate. In the late nineteenth century, the letter opener was popular as an advertising giveaway and many were made of metal or celluloid. Brass openers with figural handles were also popular. For more information, explore our identification guides for advertising, metal, and jewelry.